More than 100 election candidates' particulars declared 'extremely dubious'

E-Paper | March 04, 2026

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), during its scrutiny of candidates for the 2018 general elections, has so far found that more than 100 candidates are bank defaulters, DawnNewsTV reported on Tuesday citing sources in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The SBP has declared the particulars submitted by these candidates as "extremely dubious".

According to the SBP report, which has reportedly been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), PPP's Hina Rabbani Khar and Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo — a hopeful from NA-143, NA-144 and PP-186 — have their names on the list.

Ahmed Shah Khagga (PP-193), Ghulam Ahmed Shah (PP-193), Asim Irshad Khan (NA-124), Ameer Ahmed Siyal (NA-116), Khalid Masood (NA-30), Abdul Sattar Bachani and Zulfiqar Bachani (both from NA-224), Ameer Waliuddin Chishti (NA-256), Ayaz Khan (NA-257) and Changez Khan (NA-258) are also among the defaulters, as per *DawnNewsTV's* sources.

Azhar Khokhar (NA-52), Zainab Ahsan (PP-109), Umar Farooq (PP-113), Mushtaq Ahmed (PP-136), Ali Asim Shah (PP-185), Muhammad Ali Tarkai (PK-46) and Chaudhry Shakeel Gulzar (PP-66) are also among those who owe money to banks.

The scrutiny of nomination papers to exclude ineligible candidates from the election race started today, a day after returning officers (ROs) completed the process of receiving nomination papers from prospective candidates.

According to ECP spokesman Altaf Ahmad Khan, particulars of 12,000 candidates have so far been sent to the National Accountability Bureau, Federal Bureau of Revenue, SBP and other relevant institutions — out of which 7,500 had been verified with the help of an online system.

1,514 candidates are PTCL defaulters

Over 1,500 candidates who filed their nomination papers for various provincial and national assembly seats with the ECP are defaulters of Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL), a report sent by the company to ECP said on Tuesday.

The defaulters include Murad Saeed (Rs14,000), Faisal Kareem Kundi (Rs21,000), Ejaz Chaudhry (Rs33,521) and Syed Zafar Ali Shah (Rs18,000) among others.

ELECTIONS 2018

Pakistan

Scrutiny of poll nomination papers starts today

122 nomination papers for NA, 539 for PA filed in Balochistan

Election candidates to submit mandatory affidavits along with nomination papers: SC

The Artist

Jun 12, 2018 02:46pm

Good for Pakistan! Exclude all the defaulters from contesting the elections. This will the first step toward a better Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Sid

Jun 12, 2018 03:00pm

Excellent that this is all being highlighted - next step will be to kick these people out - politics has to be run by clean people - defaulters are a big no no

Recommend 0

Just thought

Jun 12, 2018 03:32pm

This should have been main criteria in the form that you shouldn’t have been Bank defaulter in past , unfortunately it’s too late now they’ll become power again to become bank defaulter again

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Jun 12, 2018 04:04pm

With the addendum to the election candidate's application forms about declaration of assets and other requirements with relation to Articles 62 & 63, almost 99% of the applicants would be found unfit for contesting.

Recommend 0

Truth Seeker

Jun 12, 2018 04:15pm

That’s good vetting process. Please check tax issues as well.

Recommend 0

Babu

Jun 12, 2018 06:20pm

Hina is a sensible lady and is law abiding citizen. Her name should not be dragged.

Recommend 0

zeeshandxb

Jun 12, 2018 06:23pm

It is a good move that atleast name and shame policy is being opted.

Recommend 0

Candasuck

Jun 12, 2018 07:19pm

Seem like they are late in bill payment .Thousand Rs don't count defaulters go after who defaulted million

Recommend 0

Mahmood

Jun 12, 2018 08:03pm

Bank default is serious. As for PTCL, probably half of Pakistan are PTCL defaulters. The inability of PTCL to resolve billing issues is unbelievable, causing many bills never being paid.

Recommend 0

Shakil

Jun 12, 2018 08:41pm

Good to see, this elections they are being checked instead of letting them go scot free to loot and plunder more. all defaulters should be barred unless they pay it and clear it.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Jun 12, 2018 09:00pm

Please disqualify anyone not meeting the highest standards. We must clean house and stay strong to observance of rule of law.

Recommend 0

Sajjad

Jun 12, 2018 09:04pm

Murad Saeed has a lot more on his plate than bank default. His degrees should also be checked as well as whether he really is an adult as he doesn't act like one.

Recommend 0

SHAHID SATTAR

Jun 12, 2018 09:19pm

Could they be disqualified from taking part in the elections on these grounds or permitted to take part after clearing their dues? In case they are not permitted to take part in the elections, it will set a good example for the future aspiring candidates to be ware of such actions in case of default in payments. It may serve the purpose.

Recommend 0

Syed

Jun 12, 2018 09:22pm

All these bank defaulters must first clear their debts with the banks in Pakistan before they are allowed to contest in the election. This would be the only best solution to ensure no system abusers get elected.

Recommend 0

Shafiq Shah

Jun 12, 2018 09:49pm

Exclude them from contesting election. Zero tolerance. Pakistan Supreme court and Election Commission of Pakistan (Thank You).

Recommend 0

Shafiq Shah

Jun 12, 2018 09:51pm

@Candasuck Why late?

Recommend 0

Hopeful

Jun 12, 2018 10:14pm

The politically strong candidates will obtain their NOC by hook or by crook as they have in the past. Banks and Financial institutions have no option.

Recommend 0

Ahsan Gul

Jun 12, 2018 10:24pm

Since 100 defaulters have been identified, time to recover money. Good job.

Recommend 0

Shujaat khan

Jun 12, 2018 10:26pm

Good work. Verify their educational certificates too.

Recommend 0

Lahori kid

Jun 12, 2018 11:04pm

There should always be the availability of financial records, criminal record available for the public to see who they might be voting for.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Jun 12, 2018 11:15pm

all no filers / loan defaulters should be banned for life

Recommend 0

Omar

Jun 12, 2018 11:26pm

Dual citizens, loan defaulters, fake degree holders, that’s what we have as our “law makers”.

Recommend 0

Sam

Jun 12, 2018 11:36pm

Why Candidates are contesting from 3 or 4 seats, who will pay for bye-elections? - the poor people of Pakistan will pay! Make those candidates pay for bye elections who resigns from one seat and holds other.

Recommend 0

Zafar Karamat

Jun 13, 2018 12:17am

I am not sure why we are making a fuss on the nomination form that was modified by the PML-N govt and seeking to reinstate the content of the 2013 form. Didn't the last form allow 60%-70% members of parliament who were in violation of a lot of conditions, so why do we think that in this election members completing the old form will not be in violation of the conditions. I think the scrutiny process is what needs to be strict and implemented in word and spirit. This is my humble request to the C.J.P. Thank You

Recommend 0

jameel

Jun 13, 2018 05:51am

So thieves are planning to run the show, voters are so naive

Recommend 0

Arshad A Patel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Jun 13, 2018 07:15am

I'm surprised that these politicians are considered as "DEFAULTERS". Theses are THIEVES and ROBBERS. They have looted the country with both hands and are REAL CRIMINALS. These people should be BLACKLISTED for the rest of their lives.

Recommend 0

Jun 13, 2018 01:49pm

Without NOTA there is no way people can stop unopposed candidate.

Recommend 0

altaf hussain

Jun 14, 2018 11:07am

Bank defaulters should be handeld with iron hand and Bank loans forgiven must be recovered from them

Recommend 0

Riaz

Jun 14, 2018 12:31pm

I would include tax defaulters, those who,own foreign properties, as well as those who live outside Pakistan, and use foreign airlines!

Recommend 0

Ajmal Milan

Jun 14, 2018 01:48pm

Dear Pakistani fellows kindly launch a campaign on social media and demand Election commission to recover their money and Supreme Court not to grant them stay orders . Defaulters are the thieves which are sucking the blood of poor nation . They must not be allowed to contest elections if they don’t pay their default sums.

Recommend 0

Salim Beg

Jun 15, 2018 11:36am

Defaulters of electricity , gas and other such utilities should also be noted apart from Bank Defaulters. At the same time recovery procedures from concerned agencies need to be initiated

Recommend 0