• Commission says 76pc of nomination papers filed by PTI candidates accepted, asks court to dismiss contempt plea
• ECP secretary proceeds on ‘medical leave’; spokesperson says will ‘resume duties if health permits’
• Two special secretaries looking after affairs of ECP secretariat; commission ‘fully functional’

ISLAMABAD: Shortly before its secretary proceeded on ‘medical leave’, the Election Commission of Pakistan appri­sed the Supreme Court that more than 76 per cent of the nomination papers submitted by the PTI aspirants for the 2024 general elections had been accepted.

According to Dawn.com, the ECP response was furnished on a PTI petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the election watchdog and other stakeholders for the alleged violation of the apex court’s Dec 22 orders — in which the SC had directed the ECP to attend to the PTI’s grievances urgently and resolve these expeditiously — and lack of level playing field for the party in the lead-up to elections.

The PTI alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to exclude it from the Feb 8 elections as the party’s top leadership and its allies were knocked out of the polls race after almost “90pc of nominations from important leaders” failed to stand the scrutiny exercise. It also claimed that the nomination papers of party candidates had been snatched.

In response to these allegations, the electoral watchdog, citing data obtained by returning officers (ROs), said 598 out of a total of 843 nomination papers of PTI candidates for the National Assembly had been accepted. Similarly, 1,398 out of 1,777 candidatures for provincial assemblies had been accepted, according to a Dawn.com report.

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According to the ECP, it had held a meeting with the PTI and assured the party that a level playing field would be provided to all candidates and also shared a number of steps taken by the watchdog on the matter of the level playing field.

“The commission has also issued instructions to the chief commissioner, Islamabad and all the four provincial chief secretaries, inspector(s) general of police, and all the four provincial election commissioners. In turn, the provincial election commissioners have issued the instructions to the DROs and ROs,” the ECP response added.

Similarly, the ECP maintained it had established complaint cells and contact numbers had been shared with the PTI. It said that action had been taken on all the complaints submitted by the PTI in all the four provinces and Islamabad.

“The ratio of acceptance of nomination papers of PTI candidates for election to the nation and provincial assemblies is 76.18pc,” the ECP said, highlighting that statistical data showed PTI candidates, their proposers, and seconders were provided with a level playing field. It highlighted that the party had a right to appeal the rejection of candidatures before the appellate election tribunal.

“The petitioner [PTI] has been unable to provide any proof that respondent 2 [ECP] has defied the order of the court dated Dec 22 in any manner whatsoever. The commission has taken all possible steps to comply with the order of the court dated Dec 22 […] therefore no contempt of this court is established as contemplated under Article 204 of the Constitution, the contempt petition ex-facie is not maintainable,” the ECP stated. It urged the court to dismiss PTI’s contempt plea.

Secretary ‘goes on leave’

In a surprise development, the ECP secretary, who looks after the administrative affairs of the commission, proceeded on ‘medical leave’ amid mysterious circumstances, sources told Dawn on Sunday.

Eye witness accounts revealed Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in recent weeks snubbed the secretary during various meetings, fuelling speculations that Omar Hamid Khan had been sent on a “forced leave”.

An informed source said that last Friday the CEC “insulted” the ECP secretary during a meeting over his dismal performance, with the latter reportedly explaining that he was facing health problems.

According to sources, Mr Hamid offered to step down to ensure smooth functioning of the affairs ahead of general polls and the CEC reportedly advised him to prioritise his health.

Conflicting reports continued to flood the social media adding to the confusion surrounding the issue. Some reports suggested that the secretary had tendered resignation. But these speculations were put to the rest by the ECP spokesperson,

Syed Nadeem Haider, in a statement. “Omar Hamid Khan will shortly resume his responsibilities if his health permits,” said Mr Haider.

Calling Mr Hamid a brilliant and hard-working officer, he explained that the ECP secretary had been facing health problems for some time and had remained on medical rest. He said the ECP was fully functional and there was no hindrance in the way of its work.

He said in the absence of the secretary, two special secretaries were efficiently running the affairs of the ECP secretariat.

Mr Hamid told Dawn he had health problems.

He said he remained hospitalised for a few days but came home due to a scare of further infection.

He did not explain the nature of the illness, but an ECP official said he had lung infection and respiratory problems and was probably suffering from Covid-19.

On the other hand, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said there was no crisis and the ECP was fully functional.

Mr Hamid, a retired grade 22 officer of the Secretariat Group, was appointed the ECP secretary in July 2021 on a two-year contract, which expired last year and was extended for another year.

He had earlier served as secretary of finance, secretary Benazir Income Support Programme, and secretary of national food security among other important positions.

He also served as spokesman for the interior minister, when Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was at the helm.

Iftikhar A. Khan in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024