The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices on Thursday to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Interior Secretary, and other respondents regarding a petition challenging the repeated collection of nomination paper fees from local government election candidates in the federal capital.
Justice Umair Majid Malik heard the petition, which was filed by former chairman Malik Sajid Mahmood. Advocate Mudassir Latif Abbasi represented the petitioner during the proceedings.
During the hearing, Abbasi alleged that Rs8.54 million had been collected from candidates after the previous election schedule was announced. He asked the court to order authorities to keep the fees deposited under that previous schedule, even if the schedule was later cancelled or revised.
The petitioner requested a court direction stating that fees already paid for a seat in a specific union council should be accepted under the revised election schedule. Abbasi further sought that previous fee receipts be treated as valid payment for nomination papers in the upcoming local government elections.
The counsel requested that candidates' nomination papers not be rejected just because they did not deposit the fee again. He also prayed for the court to direct the ECP and other relevant authorities to create a lawful mechanism for adjusting previously paid fees and to declare the demand for repeated payment for the same seat illegal.
The petition names the ECP, Chief Election Commissioner, Interior Secretary, District Returning Officer, and Returning Officer as respondents. The court issued the notices and adjourned the case for further proceedings.
