ISLAMABAD: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Sunday released a report, which suggests nearly 30 per cent candidates for National Assembly are not registered as taxpayers with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
FBR scrutinised the data of 5.806 candidates for the National Assembly as mentioned on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) website. However, a total of 5,473 candidates have filed nomination papers for the National Assembly seats, according to (ECP)
According to the FAFEN data, an FIA report reveals that 88 candidates are dual nationals. As many as 209 nominated candidates are defaulters of the total a total Rs3.901 billion to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). Similarly, 1,195 candidates are defaulters of total Rs12.384 million to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
Moreover, 115 candidates for 105 general seats, eight for women reserved seats and one for minority reserved seat acquired bank loans, which are either overdue or have been written off.
Returning Officers completed the scrutiny of nomination papers of aspiring contestants for the general election 2018 during June, whereas the time for deciding appeals on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers expired on June 26.
ECP publicly released available information about candidates received from various sources, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), FBR, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The commission has also publicly displayed the records of assets and liabilities and affidavits submitted by the nominated candidates on its website. NAB reported corruption cases against ten candidates. As many as five of them have been convicted in the past, one entered into a plea bargain with the bureau while two are currently under trial in accountability courts. In addition, NAB’s appeals against the dismissal of cases involving two candidates by the Lahore High Court are currently pending in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
