ECP announces schedule for first phase of LG polls in Punjab, Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday formally announced the schedule for the first phase of three-phased local government elections in Punjab and Sindh, according to which polling will be held on October 31. The announcement, through a notification, clears the way for start of an already-delayed electoral process in Pakistan’s two most populous provinces.

In the first phase, elections will be held in 12 districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahwalnagar, Bhakkar, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, and Chakwal. While in Sindh, polls will be held in eight districts: Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Qamber Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Kashmore.

According to the notification, a public notice will be issued by returning officers on September 1 while candidates can file nomination papers with returning officers by September 11.

Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on September 12-17, whereas the last date for filing of appeals for and against acceptance of nomination papers is September 22. The last date for deciding appeals by the tribunals has been fixed September 30.

The Election Commission has fixed October 1 as the last for withdrawal of candidature while the revised (final) list of candidates will be issued on October 2.

Electioneering by candidates, their supporters and political parties will be followed by the completion of the process of issuance of a final list of candidates.

The ECP has finalised returning officers, who will be supervising the local government elections in the two provinces.

The electoral body declined the requests of the provincial governments for the replacement of some returning officers, an official handout issued by the ECP media cell said.

“The ECP has declined the requests of the provincial government/provincial election commissioners (PECs) Punjab and Sindh for replacements of District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and directed that proposal for any change if so required in the public interest may be sent to this Commission for approval with full justification and cogent reasons,” the Commission said.

The ECP has also issued the code of conduct with regards toe upcoming local bodies elections and for the first time, it has asserted that any violation of its section would be dealt with as per the contempt of court under Article 204 of the Constitution.

Along with the issuance of the code, the ECP had made it clear that this code would be treated as its directive. It is pertinent that this article gives powers of contempt of court to the ECP at par with a high court. The electoral body also enjoys powers under Section 103A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976.

Candidates have been barred from holding public meetings or rallies. However, they are free to organise corner meetings and use loudspeaker for their campaign.

The president, prime minister, cabinet members, advisors, lawmakers and other government functionaries will not be permitted to announce development schemes or inaugurate uplift schemes or projects. However, the portion barring them from visiting constituencies has been omitted from the code.

Candidates will be free to spend from Rs20,000 to 1,00000 as per the nature of their seat on their election campaigns.

Meanwhile, the ECP has issued a rebuttal regarding some media reports, which suggested that certain members of the ECP had submitted their resignations to the chief election commissioner.

The Commission in a statement issued in Urdu, noted that neither the members had submitted nor the chief election commissioner received their resignations. It also clarified that the chief election commissioner could not deal with such matter, as resignations are accepted or rejected by the president.

However, ECP sources told The News that the members of the commission were under immense pressure, particularly after Imran made a hard-hitting media speech Tuesday, following the issuance of their rejoinder to his letter, he wrote to the chief election commissioner on July 30.