A file photo of ballot boxes. PHOTO: REUTERS
"District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) have already been appointed by the Election Commission and they have been asked to accomplish their duties in accordance with the provision of law and rules and maintain neutrality and impartiality."
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the ECP declined the requests of provincial governments to replace some of the ROs.
“Election Commission has declined the requests of the Provincial Government / Provincial Election Commissioners (PECs) of Punjab and Sindh for replacements of DROs, ROs and AROs and has 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 statement said.
Meanwhile, the electoral body had last week issued a proposed schedule for the first phase of local body polls in both provinces.
In the tentative schedule, dates for the first phase of polling had been set as October 31.
Read: Govt urged to hold polls according to SC schedule
In the first phase, a total of 20 districts: 12 in Punjab and eight in Sindh would go for the polls on October 31.
Elections for second and third phases will be held on November 19 and December 20 respectively, according to the proposed schedule which had been changed a number of times in the past.
According to the ECP statement, district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) have been appointed, and asked to accomplish their duties in accordance with the provision of law, and maintain neutrality and impartiality.
“Severe action will be taken against those DROs, ROs and AROs who avoid performing this national task.”
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