ECP seeks 30 days for holding LG polls in Sindh, Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Owing to the recent floods in some districts, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday sought one-month time for holding the Local Government (LG) elections in Sindh and Punjab provinces.
Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, filed an application in the Supreme Court under Order XXXIII SC Rules 1980, praying to extend at least 30 days for conducting the LG polls in the Punjab and Sindh.
The commission stated that due to the recent floods in some districts, the election process cannot be initiated on time till the floods subside as most of the flood victims, their households and animals are accommodated in government buildings, including schools and colleges. “Under the law, polling stations cannot be established in private buildings,” the ECP contended.
It further apprised the apex court it had initiated the process of training to Returning/Presiding Officers. However, due to the recent floods, certain districts have been inundated which has adversely affected the training programmes.
The attendance of polling staff was thin and the retuning officers from government departments also remained busy in flood relief activities, therefore, the ECP has to rearrange training for left-out officers, training for left out officers, the ECP submitted adding that it will affect the schedule therefore has to change the schedule from 28th July to 17th August, 2015.
The court was further informed that the Sindh province had framed rules as required under section 138 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, but the provincial government wanted to make certain changes in the Act, as many important steps for the conduct of local government elections were not provided in the Act e g format of nomination form and the compilation of result.
Similarly, the ECP informed that the nomination forms couldn’t be printed in the absence of format provided in the rules, which is prerequisite for conduct of LG elections. The ECP had already held a meeting with Sindh chief secretary, secretary Local Government and Secretary Law of Sindh and persuaded them to update the LG Rules because the process of election cannot be initiated without up to date rules.
It was further informed that revision of electoral rolls is carried out after delimitation of local councils/wards. However, due to time constraint, the revision of electoral rolls has been initiated but cannot be finalised till the final disposal of objection/appeals by the appellate authorities.
It is requirement of law that draft electoral rolls are to be displayed 21 days before its finalisation however, due to paucity of time the draft electoral rolls are going to be displayed for 7 days only”, the ECP contended.
The commission submitted that as no change can be made in the electoral rolls after issuance of schedule therefore requested for extension of 14 days to enable the public to inspect the electoral rolls and incorporate the changes in the electoral rolls.
The ECP informed that delimitation of local councils/wards started in March 2015 and the delimitation authorities were required to finalise the hearing of objections by 26th July. But due to huge pendency of objections/appeals the delimitation authorities have requested for extension of time. After the final disposal of objections by the delimitation authorities, the changes are to be incorporated in the preliminary delimitation. This process is also time consuming because the delimitation of councils/wards is again to be publicly notified.
The commission further informed that Punjab has recently issued the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, No. XVII of 2015, whereby certain sections of Punjab LG Act have been fully and partially substituted.It prayed to the apex court that time for conduct of local government elections in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh may be extended for at least 30 days.