ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: A bank loan default amounting to Rs2 million and of utility bills totalling Rs10,000 or more would rob a person of the chance to run for the upcoming polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan notified on Saturday.

A candidate aspiring to contest the elections will have to submit a declaration with the nomination papers that no loan for an amount of two million rupees or more, obtained from any bank, financial institution, cooperative society or corporation body in his own name or in the name of his spouse or any of his dependents or any business concern mainly owned by them or the aforesaid, stands unpaid for more than one year from the due date or has got such loan written off.

A candidate in a separate declaration will have to state that he, or his spouse or any of his dependents or a business concern mainly owned by him or the aforesaid is not in default in payment of government dues or utility charges, including telephone, electricity, gas and water charges of an amount in excess of Rs10,000 for over six months at the time of filing of nomination papers.

According to some reports, the CEC has already obtained a list of loan defaulters from the State Bank of Pakistan and utility bills defaulters from the respective agencies.

The CEC said the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002, promulgated on July 31, 2002, laid down these conditions for acceptance of nomination papers. Besides the aforementioned declarations, the candidates will have to state their party affiliations and submit a certificate from the political party establishing their party candidature from the constituency for which nomination papers are to be filed.

Moreover, a candidate will have to declare that he fulfils the qualification specified in Article 62 and is not subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 63, or any other law for the time being in force, for being elected as member.

The candidates will have to submit statements of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependents as on the preceding 13th day of June.

Apart from these, the nomination papers should also be accompanied by a statement of educational qualifications, occupation, national identity card number and national tax number along with attested copies of these documents.

The CEC said the nomination forms were being printed and would be despatched to all returning officers shortly for onward supply to the prospective candidates of national and provincial assemblies’ constituencies throughout Pakistan on payment of Rs10. These nomination forms are also available on the web site of the Election Commission — www.ecp.gov.pk.