ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: The Election Commission on Monday said that the executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces shall not use the state resources to the unfair advantage of any candidate.

In an order issued on Monday, the EC said that heads of the local bodies, would expose themselves to the disqualification proceedings if they made any attempt to influence the results of elections in their constituency.

The EC said the federal and provincial executive authorities shall not exercise undue influence, affecting the interest of any person intending to contest the election.

It said that if Nazims and Naib Nazims of local bodies were found misusing their official position in any manner to influence the results of the elections, they would expose themselves to punishment with imprisonment for a term up to two years.

In its order, the EC also said that appropriate legal proceedings can be initiated against the “delinquent” Nazims, Naib Nazims, for attempting to influence the results of the forthcoming election, seeking his disqualification to hold his office.

The order also forbids Nazims and Naib Nazims from committing any development project in the area of the candidate of their choice to advance his campaign and thus influence the results.

The EC also provided two more days to seven political parties who have failed to submit statement of their accounts.

The parties, namely, Jamote Qaumi Movement, Kakar Jhamhoori Party Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Quwwat Party, Pakistan Brohi Party, Pakistan Jhamhoori Aman Party, Pakistan Progressive Party and Tehreek Wafaq Pakistan, failed to submit their statements of accounts, duly verified by a chartered accountant.

The EC gave them another chance to submit their statements by Sept 18, 2002, by 3pm, failing which the symbols allotted to them shall automatically stand withdrawn.

The EC also invited the attention of all contesting candidates to the provisions of section 48, 49, 50 and 51 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, relating to the filing of return of election expenses.

It said that a candidate for a national assembly seat is to ensure that his expenses shall not exceed Rs1.5 million and a candidate for a PA seat is required to ensure that his expenses do not exceed Rs1 million.

The candidates are required to vouch for every payment through bills, receipts and other documents, except where the amount is less than Rs500.

Every contesting candidate will have to submit the return of election expenses within 30 days of the publication of the name of returned candidates.