Elections 2018: ECP forfeits security deposit of 121 candidates
The sum of the security deposits withheld is Rs3.6 million.
(Roznama Dunya) – Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has withheld security deposits of as many as 121 those candidates who contested elections from Lahore’s 14 constituencies of National Assembly (NA), Roznama Dunya reported on Saturday.
As per details garnered, the electoral body has taken this decision as these 121 contestants failed in procuring one-fourth of the votes casted in their respective constituencies.
A candidate vying for seat of National Assembly is bound to deposit security worth Rs30000 whereas those vying for seat in the provincial assemblies are bound to deposit security worth Rs20000 with ECP.
The decision has been taken under Clause 61 of revamped Election Act, 2017.
The clause states if a candidate, not being the returned candidate, obtains less than one-fourth of the total votes polled in the constituency, the sum deposited by him or on his behalf under sub-section (1) shall stand forfeited in favour of the Government.
The deposit also becomes non-refundable if application of its return is not submitted within three months from the date of declaration of result of the election by the Commission or, in case election is not held, from the date of termination of the proceedings of an election.
161 contestants took part in the election from 14 NA constituencies in Lahore.
The sum of the security deposits withheld is Rs3.6 million.
Some of the candidates whom security has been confiscated include singer-turned-politician Jawad Ahmad, Zaeem Qadri and Asif Ashraf Jalali.
Published in Roznama Dunya, translated and edited by Zohaib Hassan
