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NA adopts resolution seeking delay in local bodies electionsISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution seeking to delay local bodies (LB) elections.
According to the resolution moved by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, conducting local bodies elections in haste will cast doubts on the credibility and transparency of the election results.
It is practically difficult to hold free and fair local bodies elections under the dates announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the resolution said.
It said the ECP must ensure proper procedures to ensure free and transparent local government elections. Printing of ballot papers as defined by the law can only be carried out by the Printing Press of Pakistan which has shown its inability to print the ballot papers in the provided time frame.
According to the resolution, printing of ballot papers by any private printing press will not be acceptable as it will make the entire election process questionable. The sovereign political will of this House should prevail in a democratic process.
The resolution sought appropriate time period to deliver local bodies elections.
ECP, political parties meeting cancelled
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has cancelled a meeting with representatives of political parties to hold consultations over local bodies’ elections. The meeting was originally scheduled for Friday at 10:00 AM.
The ECP has announced that local bodies’ elections in Sindh would be held on November 27 and in Punjab and Balochistan on December 07.
Ballot paper printing not possible in 20-25 days:Dar
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after visiting the ECP said that it was not possible tom complete the process of printing ballot papers in 20-25 days.
Dar added that if the government would be involved in the printing process, it would cast doubt on the transparency of elections.
Courtesy www.geo.tv