Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said that the election security provided by the army cost the nation Rs9 billion.
Speaking to media after polls, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad informed that the commission spent the largest amount of money on the training of polling officials, which included training of troops. Another major increase in the expenditure was caused by the use of imported watermarked ballot papers for the first time.
The secretary told reporters that a notification declaring the winners will be issued within 14 days of the poll day, adding that the candidates will have to submit details of election expenses within 10 days and the winning notification will be issued for only those contestants who submit such details.
Referring to the accusation of breach of secrecy of ballot against Imran Khan, he said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman could be sentenced if the allegation is proven.
He said the election results will have more transparency due to the use of the Result Transmission System (RTS). The system will not malfunction, he said.
The ECP secretary said that the independent candidates can join parties within three days of the issuance of the ECP notification. The chief election commissioner will formally announce the first electoral result once it is finalised, he revealed.
