Local bodies elections: List of political parties swells with one-man entities

ECP decides to hire private printers for Sindh’s LG polls.


Irfan Ghauri April 02, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


After decision to hold local government elections in cantonment areas on party basis, election authorities have compiled a list of around 170 parties who have been allotted symbols.


Most of these parties known as one-man parties had applied for an election symbol before the last general elections. The list, however, also contains new parties registered after the 2013 general elections who have been allocated symbols to contest the polls.

Under the existing process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sends the list to the returning officers who allocate a symbol to every contesting candidate. Those who contest polls as independents are allocated unique symbols not allotted to any party.

ECP, in a notification issued Wednesday, asked political parties to compile a list of their authorized representatives who would be able to recommend a candidate for a party ticket. Since the LG polls are a comprehensive exercise with grass root level politics involved, ECP has requested the political parties to appoint focal persons at district and division levels.



Additionally ECP in a meeting at its headquarters decided to hire services of private printers to print ballot papers for LG polls in Sindh scheduled in September this year.

The meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan was of the view that in the schedule approved by the Supreme Court, the 22 days available to ECP for the printing of around 420 million ballot papers needed for the two largest provinces, would not be possible. The representatives of government printing presses informed the ECP that with combined capacities it was possible to print a maximum of 110 million ballot papers.

An official told The Express Tribune that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan informed the committee that it had arrangements made with National Institutional Facilitation Technology (NIFT) and Tranzum Companies and Services (TCS) that will increase the capacity by three times taking the total to 330 million ballot papers.

The official however said that the most feasible solution for the printing of the remaining 90 million ballot papers would be to involve other private companies.  He said the Commission has formed a five-member committee headed by the Secretary ECP to work out a solution and submit a report within the next five working days.

Another option discussed during the meeting was the purchase of around 40 new machines by PCP. However it was noted that the implementation involving placement of orders, supply and installation of the machines may take time beyond the deadline.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2015.

 

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