ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday said 14registered political parties had been barred from contesting the upcomingelection for their failure to hold intra-party election, which was aviolation of the Election Act, 2017.

According to ECP Spokesperson Altaf Khan, 106 political parties out of 120were allowed to take part in the election which had fulfilled requirementsin accordance with the two new rules introduced for the registration of aparty.

The 14 registered parties, which failed to hold intra-party election andcomply with other rules and regulations of the ECP, were not allottedelectoral symbols, he said.

The spokesperson said the ECP had incorporated two new rules, including20,000 attested copies of Computerized National Identity Cards of partyworkers and Rs 200,000 registration fee to control the mushroom growth ofpolitical parties.

The rules, he said, proved to be instrumental in tapping the mushrooming ofpolitical parties in 2016 that witnessed a surge in 2013.

The parties, which were not allotted election symbols, included PakistanMuslim League (Sher-e-Bangal), Tehreek-e-Tahafuze Pakistan,Tehreek-e-Ehsas-e-Pakistan, Tehreek Ahle-e-Sunnat Pakistan, PakistanNational Muslim, League, Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara and others.

Altaf said the Commission, in that regard, had written letters to allparties contending for registration to submit all the required detailswithin the stipulated time otherwise their registration would be declarednull and void.

He said the watchdog was logistically fully prepared to hold the upcomingelection on time scheduled to be held on July 25 of this year.

It is pertinent to mention that returning officers across the country haveallocated party symbols to prospective candidates who produced partycertificates while independent candidates were allocated symbols from thelist of 224 symbols. – APP