Aug 27 , 2015
News
ECP unveils schedule for first phase of LG polls in Punjab, Sindh
* Process will start in September and come to an end on October 31 * 12 districts of Punjab and nine of Sindh to hold voting in first phaseISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a schedule for the first phase of local government elections in Punjab and Sindh on October 31 this year.
In the first phase of elections, polling will take place in 20 districts of both the provinces on October 31. Electoral rolls have been finalised in the districts as well. Elections will be conducted in 12 districts of Punjab, while election in eight districts of Sindh will be held from October 31.
Nomination papers can be filed from 7th to 11th of the next month, while scrutiny of nominations papers would be held from 12th to 17th of September.
Last date for filing of appeals against the decisions of the returning officers regarding acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers would be September 22.
Tribunals will decide appeals by September 30, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature would be October 1.
District returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) have already been appointed by the ECP for this purpose, and they have been asked to fulfil their duties in accordance with the provision of law and rules and maintain neutrality and impartiality.
According to a notification by the ECP, severe action will be taken against those returning officers who failed to fulfil their responsibilities.
Furthermore, the commission has declined the requests of the provincial governments and provincial election commissioners of Punjab and Sindh for the replacements of DROs, ROs and AROs, directing that the proposal for any changes — if required in the public interest — may be sent to the ECP for approval with full justification and compelling reasons. Last month, the ECP filed a petition in the Supreme Court for a 30-day extension in the date for holding local government elections in Punjab and Sindh.
The ECP had said that it would be difficult to print nomination papers as the Sindh government intends to change election rules.
The commission had also informed the apex court that the Punjab government had partially or impartially changed several clauses of the local bodies election rules through an ordinance.
“The decision has been made in view of inability expressed by the provincial governments to spare administrative officers for the election process and training due to relief and rehabilitation of flood-stricken people,” the ECP had said. Previously, the ECP had deferred the announcement of schedule for local government elections in Punjab and Sindh.
The ECP further said it was all prepared to hold the polls as expected, but pointed out that certain activities were required to be carried out prior to the announcement of the schedule, including publication of final delimitation of constituencies, revision of electoral rolls on the basis of claims and objections received by the registration officers, and completion of legal formalities required for holding elections.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended last week that the local government elections in Punjab and Sindh planned for September 20 be put off in view of floods in the two provinces. The committee, headed by Mian Abdul Rahman, had previously recommended holding of polls in division-wise phases.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk