The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday began hearing appeals filed against returning officers’ decisions to reject nomination papers for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, approving the candidacy of 52 applicants on the first day.

Senior EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed briefed journalists after the daylong hearings, saying the commission reviewed appeals numbered 1 to 70.

Of these, 52 appeals were accepted, 15 were rejected, and decisions on three were kept pending.

According to EC, a total of 645 appeals were submitted challenging returning officers’ decisions. The appeal submission process began on January 5 and concluded on January 9.

Earlier, returning officers had rejected 723 nomination papers by January 4.

The EC said the appeal hearings, which started at 10am on Saturday, will continue until January 18. As per the schedule, appeals numbered 71 to 140 will be heard on Sunday, January 11; 141 to 210 on Monday, January 12; and 211 to 280 on Tuesday, January 13.

Under the revised election roadmap, the commission will dispose of all appeals between January 10 and January 18.

The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20, while returning officers will publish the final list of candidates and allocate electoral symbols on January 21.

Candidates will be able to begin official campaigning from January 22, which will continue until 7:30am on February 10.

Voting in the 13th national parliamentary election is scheduled to take place on February 12, Thursday, from 7:30am to 4:30pm without any break.