The National Accountability Bureau, Federal Board of Revenue and State Bank of Pakistan would be bound to scrutinise prospective candidates within 12 hours, Additional Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Afzal Khan said on Friday. "No institution is allowed to withhold information," Afzal Khan said, adding the ECP's IT system had been linked with these institutions.
Speaking to media persons here, Khan said that only those candidates who received a clean chit from these institutions would be allowed to contest elections. Khan said that if there was concrete evidence regarding any candidate was received even after elections, he would be declared ineligible. According to the ECP official, candidates who are defaulters of MNA and MPA hostels, government institutions and residences would also not be allowed to contest elections. Khan told reporters that prominent candidates would be given special attention during the scrutiny process.