ECP Code Violations Continued through End of Campaign Period
ISLAMABAD, April 9, 2013: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)’s Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) have observed 216 National Assembly constituencies across the country during March 24 and March 31, 2013 and found out that women constitute only 3.94% of the 4,108 candidates who submitted nomination forms. These nomination papers were submitted for the upcoming May 11 General Election 2013, says a press release issued by FAFEN on Tuesday.
More than half of the candidates submitting nomination forms to contest the election did not submit their National Tax Numbers (NTN) (2,161 or 52.6% of the total), indicating that they may not be registered as taxpayers.
About 30% of the candidates (1,236) either have no formal education (7.3%) or have received less education than a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree. One-fifth of applicants (22.6%) have failed to mention their educational qualifications. Combined, the two categories form over half of the total applicants.
Approximately 30% of the candidates (1,226) have failed to list any profession or occupation in their nomination forms. The highest number of applicants are either working in the agriculture sector (786, or 19.1%), have their own businesses (777, or 18.9%), or are lawyers (307, or 7.5%) or landlords (276, or 6.7%).
More than half of the 4,108 candidate aspirants are affiliated with one of 28 political parties. Almost half of the applicants (1,865, or 45%) are independent candidates.
A total of 3,946 male candidate applicants and 162 female candidate applicants submitted nomination papers with Returning Officers from March 24 to March 31. In total 2,321 candidates filed nomination papers in Punjab, 585 in Sindh, 561 in KP, 254 in Balochistan, 229 in FATA and 158 in ICT.
Women constitute less than 4% of the 4,108 candidate applicants in the 216 reporting constituencies. The highest number of male candidates filed nomination papers in Punjab (2,212), followed by Sindh (554), KP (546), Balochistan (252), FATA (229) and ICT (153). Similarly, 109 out of 162 female candidates were in Punjab, 31 in Sindh, 15 in KP, 5 in ICT and two in Balochistan.
FAFEN observers reported from 216 constituencies a majority of candidate applicants (2,161 or 52.6%) did not provide a National Tax Number (NTN) with their application.
A total of 1,228 NTNs provided by candidate applicants (29.9%) were verified by Returning Officers. However, 719 candidate applicants (17.5%) provided NTNs that had not been verified by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Just four (0.1%) of the aspirants hold a PhD degree and six (0.1%) an MPhil. Almost 10% of candidates (404) have a Master’s degree, while just over one-third of the candidates (1,466) have a Bachelor’s degree.
Educational credentials for the remaining candidates, constituting more than half, were either missing (930, or 22.6%) or intermediate or lower, including 299 aspirants (7.3%) who have had no formal education.
A total of 320 candidate applicants (7.8%) have an intermediate (FA/FSC) certificate; 399 (9.7%) have a matriculation certificate; 62 candidates (1.5%) hold certificates from religious educational institutions; 42 (1%) have less than matriculation; 56 (1.4%) graduated from primary school; and one has less than a primary education. Another 14 candidates (0.3%) hold various diplomas and 19 hold other educational certificates.
FAFEN observers reported that among 4,108 candidates who submitted nomination papers to contest in 216 constituencies, the profession/occupation of almost one-third of aspirants (1,226, or 29.8%) is not listed.
The highest number of applicants are either working in the agriculture sector (786, or 19.1%), have their own businesses (777, or 18.9%), or are lawyers (307, or 7.5%) or landlords (276, or 6.7%).
Another 131 applicants are employed in unspecified professions; 78 are politicians; 71 are doctors; 48 are imam/alam; 47 are social workers; 41 are housewives; 30 are property dealers; 29 are listed as retired; 28 are laborers; 23 are unemployed; 22 are journalists; and 14 are students.
More than half of the 4,108 candidate aspirants are affiliated with a political party. FAFEN CLTOs identified 28 different parties that are fielding at least one candidate in the 216 reporting constituencies. Almost half of the applicants (1,865, or 45%) are independent candidates. The party affiliations of another 14 candidate applicants in Punjab, three in FATA, two in KP and one in Balochistan were not available to FAFEN at the time this Update was compiled.
For complete report, click here
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