RAWALPINDI: The Government today [Nov 25] withdrew the provision regarding payment of Rs100,000 to validly nominated candidates for the Presidential election. Announcing this, the Law Minister, Mr Khursheed Ahmed, said this was to discourage the multiplicity of candidates and to ensure an early election. The Law Minister said his party stood for a straight fight between President Ayub and Miss Fatima Jinnah. “We are keen on prompt decision by the electors and also stand for further narrowing down of the gap between the polls of the electoral college and the Presidential election,” he added.

The ruling party’s fear was that the opposition was anxious to delay the elections to gain time. For this purpose, certain “independents” were being encouraged to file the nomination papers by the last date. Some were filing nominations only because of the temptation of getting Rs 100,000. Under the Presidential Election Act, every valid candidate was eligible to get Rs 100,000 from the Election Commission to meet the expenses. The Minister said the administration had all along been keen on securing the verdict of the people and affording them an opportunity to determine the shape of things in Pakistan. — Special Representative

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014