Pakistan

Working hours for govt employees slashed on eve of Islamabad LG polls

Move comes after PTI urged federal government to extend polling time or announce a holiday

Qamar Zaman November 29, 2015

Move comes after PTI urged federal government to extend polling time by two hours or announce a holiday. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Government has announced early closure of its offices in the federal capital on Monday to enable the employees cast their votes in due time.

“All government departments including federal ministries located in Islamabad shall be closed at 2pm on Monday, November 30 to enable the employees cast their votes in the local body elections,” said a notification issued on Sunday.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek--e-Insaf's (PTI) Asad Umar had asked the government to announce a holiday on the polling day.

Polling on working day to hurt voter turnout: PTI, PPP

He contended that a similar issue had been encountered during LG polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, talking to The Express Tribune, a senior ECP official ruled out such a move but indicated working hours could be reduced.

Poll preparedness: What are you voting for tomorrow?

The PTI MNA had also filed an application with the ECP, calling for legal proceedings against Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of the PML-N.

Umer argued felicitation messages in newspapers regarding Chaudhry ‘seemed like pre-poll rigging’, asking the commission to restrain such an act.

COMMENTS (2)

Sana | 9 years ago | Reply Why the government is so indecisive about declaring off? What about the private sector employees working in Islamabad offices? How will they cast their votes because there is no off declared by the Private sector? Such a shame they are unable to facilitate an educated working class.

Ahsan | 9 years ago | Reply An example of pre polling technical rigging by PML-N. The educated private sector workers are mostly supporters of PTI. By not having declared public holiday in the city this is a sinister attempt to keep citizens from voting as they will be on their offices. Labourer's of Islamabad are mostly PML-N supporters as the government has easily fooled them by giving them free food, etc. As they don't have fixed working hours they will turn out to vote. PML-N is playing dirty.

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