EC asks Punjab, Sindh to ensure neutrality

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad has written a letter to the chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, asking them to ensure the returning officers and district returning officers must remain neutral during the upcoming local bodies polls.
Babar wrote the letter on the instructions of the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza and asked the chief secretaries to issue instructions to the DCOs and assistant commissioners, who are now functioning as ROs and DROs, should not take sides.
The Election Commission said it had received several complaints against DROs and ROs, who were allegedly showing favours to certain political parties. The secretary mentioned parts of the speech of the Quaid-e-Azam to the officers, in which he asked them to remain dutiful and committed, as prime ministers and ministers would come and go while they had to stay back.
The ECP secretary cautioned that if the commission continued receiving complaints, the electoral body would take action whatever it deemed fit.