ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday extended the deadline for the filing of nomination papers for the upcoming general polls by two days.

The decision was made just hours before the original deadline was set to expire In a press release issued on Friday, the electoral watchdog announced that nomination papers can now be filed till Dec 24 (Sunday), but made it clear that the previously announcedpolling date would remain unchanged.

It said the decision was takeninresponse torequests from political parties and aims to facilitate the prospective candidates.

The decision comes a day after the PML-N requested a two-day extension in the time period for filing nomination papers.

Several other political parties, including JUI-F and BAP, had also sought an extension in the time for filing nomination papers to ensure the selection of better candidates.

Ishaq Dar, who heads the central election cell of PML-N, had pointed out that only three days had been allocated for the filing of nomination papers, while seven days had been given for the scrutiny of the same.

Under the revised schedule, the list of nominated candidates, originally set to be published today (Saturday) will now be published tomorrow (Sunday), following the completion of the process to receive nomination papers. The scrutiny of nomination papers will commence from Dec 25, instead of Dec 24, and will conclude on Dec 30, as per the previously issued schedule.

The ECP also advised the political parties to submit priority lists for reserved seats to returning officers within the stipulated time. The ECP statement said that timelines for other stages, including the poll date, will remain unchanged. The elec-toral watchdog confirmed the amended schedule was available on the ECP website.

PPP raises objections Meanwhile, the PPP has objected to the bar imposed on heads of the local governments from taking part in the poll campaign. In a letter to the chief election commissioner, Senator Taj Haider, In-charge of the central election cell of PPP, has drawn ECP`s attention towards Section 18 of the Code of Conduct in which, mayor/chairman/nazim have also been restricted from participating in election campaigns.

`...there is no law which prohibits a mayor/chairman/nazim of local governments from contesting elections on a general seatfor provincial and national assemblies, and presently, there are many cases in which those elected in the local government electionsare filing nomination papers for contesting on PA and NA seats in the forthcoming general elections.

These candidates naturally have to run and lead their election campaigns,` the letter reads.

The letter also points out thatin the province of Punjab handpicked village councils have replaced the constitutionally mandated local governments, and these appointed persons are fully participating in the election campaign of a certain political party.

`As a matter of fact there are widespread reports that the village councils are providing jobs and contracts to the loyalists of that particular political party. You may be pleased to recall that in the meeting of our delegation with your good self, we had pointed out the illegality of the appointed village councils in Punjab, and your honourhad concurredin principle with our point of view.