ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hassan Khan has directed the aspirants for the Senate seats to identify their party affiliation at the time of scrutiny.

It was observed that the candidates had not identified their affiliation by attaching party tickets or certificates in support of their claims with their nomination papers at the time of submitting them.

Keeping in view the situation, the CEC had asked such candidates to identify their affiliation before the returning officers at the time of scrutiny, else the papers would not be entertained except of the independent candidates.

The CEC had also warned the candidates that if at any stage it was established that any of their proposers or seconders had accepted any gratification they would stand disqualified for the election. Moreover, such proposers or seconders would also be proceeded against in accordance with law.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers for the Senate would be carried out from Jan 23 till Jan 29 as the process for submission of nomination papers would be completed by Jan 22, whereas Jan 31 had been as the last date for filing appeals against scrutiny.

Disposal of appeals would be completed by Feb 6 and withdrawal would be excepted on Feb 7, whereas the final list of candidates would be published on Feb 8.

The Senate elections had been scheduled in provinces for Feb 24 and in Islamabad and Fata for Feb 27.—APP