Asif gets additional charge of ECP secretary

ISLAMABAD: With around a month left in the conduct of the widely-debated general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday assigned the additional charge of ECP secretary (BS-22) to Dr Syed Asif Hussain.

According to a notification issued here, Dr Asif Hussain is currently working as special secretary in the Election Commission Secretariat here. “He has been assigned the additional charge of the post of secretary, ECP, with immediate effect and until further orders. This is issued with the approval of the chief election commissioner,” says the notification.

The electoral body had issued a statement a day earlier that Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Omar Hamid Khan’s health had been bad for few days and he had been on medical rest before that. It noted even now, if his health permitted, he would perform his duties soon. “He is an intelligent and hardworking officer and is doing the work of the commission very well. The commission is fully functional and there is no obstruction or impediment in its work. Even during holidays, the commission and its offices are functioning,” it said. In the absence of the secretary, the statement said, both the special secretaries of the commission were running the work of the commission in a good way.

Meanwhile, the ECP clarified that the news about providing incomplete information on 8300 (SMS) service is not correct. It explained that the fact was that the final publication of the list of polling stations was done 15 days before the elections and at that time, the voters could find their statistical link code on the electoral list, series number, family number, provincial and national assembly constituency number and the name of the polling station. At present, it pointed out, the lists of polling stations had been published constituency-wise preliminary, and voters could submit their objections and suggestions to the respective district returning officers by January 11, 2024 and the DROs will decide on these objections/suggestions by January 17, 2024.

The final publication of the lists of polling stations will be made 15 days before the elections. After publication, the details of voters data are provided on 8300 (SMS). It said the voters exercising the right to postal ballot could get the required information from the electoral rolls available in the respective district election commissioners’ offices.