The National and Provincial Assemblies (Elections to Reserved Seats) Act, 1976

Current legal status not independently verified. Source: Pakistan Code (single official PDF, 2026-08-21). The text below is the official Pakistan Code text as retrieved; whether it is still in force, or has since been amended or repealed, has not been independently checked.

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the conduct of elections to the reserved seats in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies and to guard against corrupt and illegal practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections and for the determination of doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with elections, and other matters arising out of or connected therewith; It is hereby enacted as follows:— CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

• Section 1: Short title, extent and commence ment
• Section 2: Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
• Section 3: Procedure of the Commission
• Section 4: Power to punish for contempt. The Commission, the Commissioner and the members of the
• Section 5: Delegation of powers, etc. The Commission may authorise its Chairman or any of its members
• Section 6: Assistance to the Commission
• Section 7: Election to reserved seats
• Section 8: Definition. In this Chapter, "election expenses" means any expenditure incurred before,
• Section 9: Restriction on election expenses
• Section 10: Return of election expenses
• Section 11: Inspection of returns, etc
• Section 12: Election Petition
• Section 13: Presenta tion of petition
• Section 14: Parties to the petition. The petitioner shall join all the candidates as respondents to his
• Section 15: Contents of petition
• Section 16: Procedure on receipt of petition by the Commis sioner
• Section 17: Appoint ment of Tribunal
• Section 18: Power to transfer petition. The Commissioner, either of his own motion or on an application
• Section 19: Place of trial. The trial of an election petition shall be held at such place or places as the
• Section 20: Attorney­General, etc., to assist the Tribunal. In the case of an election petition relating to
• Section 21: Appearance before Tribunal. Any appearance, application or act before a Tribunal may be
• Section 22: Procedure before Tribunal
• Section 23: Dismissal of petition during trial. The Tribunal shall dismiss an election petition, if
• Section 24: Powers of the Tribunal. The Tribunal shall have all the powers of civil court trying a suit
• Section 25: Further provision relating to evidence and wit nesses
• Section 26: Recrimi nation where seat is claimed
• Section 27: Decision of the Tribu nal
• Section 28: Ground for declaring election of returned candidate void
• Section 29: Ground for declaring a person other than a returned candidate elected. The Tribunal
• Section 30: Ground for declaring election as a whole void. The Tribunal shall declare the election as a
• Section 31: Decision in case of equality of votes
• Section 32: Other pro visions relating to Tribunal
• Section 33: Withdrawal of petition
• Section 34: Abatement on death of petitioner
• Section 35: Death or withdrawal of respon dent. If, before the conclusion of the trial of an election
• Section 36: Failure of petitioner to appear. Where, at any stage of the trial of an election petition, no
• Section 37: Order as to costs
• Section 38: Corrupt practice. A person is guilty of corrupt practice if he
• Section 39: Bribery. A person is guilty of bribery, if he, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other
• Section 40: Undue in fluence. A person is guilty of undue influence, if he
• Section 41: Penalty for corrupt practice. Any person guilty of corrupt practice shall be punishable with
• Section 42: Illegal practice
• Section 43: Assistance by Govern ment ser vant. A person in the service of Pakistan is guilty of an
• Section 44: Certain offences cognizable. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
• Section 45: Court pro ceedings relating to election expenses. The Commission shall direct an officer
• Section 46: Court to report con victions to the Com mission. A court convicting any person for an
• Section 47: Punishment under this Chapter not in dero gation of any other Liability. Any punishment
• Section 48: Disquali fications. A person shall be disqualified from being elected as, and
• Section 49: Disquali fication on account of certain offences. Where a person has been convicted for
• Section 50: Removal and re mission of disqualification. The Commissioner may, on an application made
• Section 51: Commission to ensure fair election, etc. Save as otherwise provided, the Commission may
• Section 52: Directions of Com mission in certain matters. Anything required to be done for carrying out
• Section 53: Jurisdiction of courts barred. No court shall question the legality of any action taken in
• Section 54: Protection of action taken in good faith. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall
• Section 55: Power to make rules. The Commissioner may, with the approval of the President, make rules
• Section 56: Commission to be cons trued as Commissio ner in certain cases. For the purpose of holding
• Section 57: [Repeal.] Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (XXVII