ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The Election Commission has asked the contestants of the general elections to submit the details of their polls’ expenses.

The EC has drawn the attention of the candidates to Section 50 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, under which every contesting candidate, other than the returned candidates, should submit the returns of the election expenses within 30 days of the publication of the names of the returned candidates.

A statement issued on Saturday said: “Every contesting candidate is required to submit to the Returning Officer in the prescribed form containing a statement of all payments made by him/her together with all bills and receipts; a statement of all disputed claims; a statement of all unpaid claims, if any; and a statement of all money, securities or equivalent money received from, or spent, by any person for the benefit of the candidate, specifying the name of event such person.”

“Names of returned candidates for National Assembly constituencies and provincial assemblies constituencies were published in the official Gazette on October 20, 2002. Thus all contesting candidates other than returned candidates are required to submit their returns of election expenses, in the prescribed form and in the prescribed manner with the concerned Returning Officers within 30 days that is on or before November 20, 2002,” the statement added.

The statement also warned failure to comply with the provisions of Section 50 amounts to “Illegal Practice” as contemplated by Section 83 of Representation of the People Act, 1976, and punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to six months and fine which may extend to Rs5,000.—APP