ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The Election Commission on Monday received documents from more than 30 political parties for registration.

The parties were informed by the Election Commission officials that under the rules, they could submit the required documents, including certificates of intra-party polls, amended party constitutions in the light of the Political Parties Order 2002, and audited reports, showing their expenses, by August 12.

Secretary Election Commission, Hasan Muhammad, received the documents from party office-holders.

The EC, under the rules framed recently after the promulgation of Political Parties Order, has to be satisfied whether the certificates submitted by the parties, fulfilled the requirement of Articles 11, and 12 of the PPO. The documents would be published in the official gazette.

The Election Commission, under the rules, is empowered to return the documents if found not in conformity with the PPO’s provisions.

As the office of Election Commission opened on Monday, a large number of office-holders of the political parties began pouring in to submit their party documents.

It is for the first time that the Election Commission was conducting such an exercise to get complete information about the political parties. General Ziaul Haq had attempted to register the political parties, but failed. The attempt was thwarted by Pakistan People’s Party with the help of Supreme Court.

The apex court on the constitutional petition of Benazir Bhutto had held that asking a political party to get itself registered was violative of the fundamental rights of the people who were ultimate judge to accept or reject any party.

The parties which submitted papers on Monday, included Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The documents were submitted to the Secretary Election Commission by Aftab Sheikh, Deputy Convenor MQM, and Shoaib Bukhari, also deputy convenor.

Aftab Sheikh told Dawn that MQM had already submitted the amended party constitution, and on Monday they handed in audited report of its finances and intra-party polls. Dr Imran Farooq, who is in London, said he was the head of MQM. (Under the PPO, an absconder or convict could be an office bearer of any party).

Pakistan Muslim League (N) submitted documents, sans intra-party polls certificate, through Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal, and Ahsan Iqbal. They informed the reporters outside the Election Commission House that intra-party polls certificate would be submitted sometime before August 12.

The other parties, which submitted documents for registration, are Pakistan Awami Tehrik-i-Inqilab, Pakistan Progressive Party, Mohajir Ittehad Tehrik Pakistan, Progressive Democratic Party Balochistan, Sindh National Front, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Pakistan Pashthoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Pakistan Ittehad Tehreek, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan, Balochistan National Party, Punjab National Front, Jamhoori Watan Party, Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Group), Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Afghan National Party, Pakistan Worker Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nazriyat Group), Jamiat-i- Ulema Pakistan (Niazi Group), Pakistan Muslim League (Qasim), Pakistan Jamhoori Aman Party, Pakistan Gharib Party, Balochistan National Democratic Party, Awami Hamayat Tehreek Pakistan, Tehreek-i-Jamhoriat Pakistan, Pakistan Workers Party, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party, Pakistan Saraiki Party, and Musawat Party headed by film actress Musarrat Shaheen.

The Election Commission official was receiving the papers from the parties until 9 pm.