The Election Commission (EC) continued the fifth day of hearings on Wednesday, 14 January, regarding appeals filed against the Returning Officers’ decisions on the scrutiny of nomination papers submitted by candidates for the 13th National Parliament elections. The session commenced at 10:00 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 5:00 p.m.
A total of 645 appeals have been lodged with the EC challenging the Returning Officers’ rulings. For today’s session, appeals numbered 281 to 380 have been scheduled for review.
The appeal hearings began on Saturday, 10 January. Over the past four days, a substantial number of candidates have had their appeals approved or rejected:
| Day | Date | Number of Candidates Approved | Number of Candidates Rejected | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, 10 Jan | 0 | 51 | Initial hearing; rejections issued |
| 2 | Sun, 11 Jan | 57 | – | Appeals approved as valid |
| 3 | Mon, 12 Jan | 0 | 41 | Appeals rejected |
| 4 | Tue, 13 Jan | 53 | – | Appeals approved |
| 5 | Wed, 14 Jan | To be determined | To be determined | Current session underway |
In total, 203 candidates have successfully reclaimed their candidacy over the first four days of hearings. The process is being conducted in accordance with the revised schedule of the 13th parliamentary election.
According to the amended electoral timetable, the appeal hearings will continue until 18 January. The final date for withdrawal of candidacy is set for 20 January, after which the Returning Officers will publish the final list of candidates and allocate electoral symbols on 21 January.
Election campaigns will officially begin on 22 January and will run until 7:30 a.m. on 10 February. Polling is scheduled to take place on 12 February, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., across the country.
The ongoing scrutiny of nomination papers and the meticulous handling of appeals are being closely watched by political observers and voters alike, given their crucial impact on the composition of the upcoming parliament.