Asif Hussain appointed ECP secretary

ISLAMABAD: Just three weeks before the conduct of general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday witnessed some key developments, including the shake-up in its provincial election commissions.

Omar Hamid Khan, who worked as the commission’s secretary from July 9, 2021 to January 16, 2024, has resigned and his resignation has been accepted by the chief election commissioner, being the appointing authority. The notification to this effect said that the condition of one-month prior notice period as per the contract has been accordingly waived off. He has resigned on health conditions. According to a notification issued here, in his place, Dr Syed Asif Hussain, special secretary, has been appointed as ECP secretary with immediate effect for a period of one year on contractual basis in the public interest on the terms and conditions already offered and accepted. Similarly, the Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC), Punjab, Saeed Gul, has been removed and appointed as Director General of Elections Cell and Head of the Elections Wing, Islamabad. He has been replaced with Aijaz Anwar Chohan, who was previously serving as provincial election commissioner Balochistan. In place of Chohan, presently serving as Additional Director General (Elections-I), Islamabad, Muhammad Farid Afridi has been appointed as provincial election commissioner Balochistan.