The District Returning Officer has completed all preparation for the possible elections for 15 Punjab Assembly seats falling in the Rawalpindi district despite the grave uncertainty surrounding elections on May 14.
Officials said that the polling scheme has also been approved, but due to a lack of budget, the District Election Commission is yet to start the distribution of polling boxes, stationery and ballot papers to the presiding officers and polling officers.
The sources said that the competent authority also refused to provide police forces and transportation.
The training of polling and presiding officers, as well as all monitoring staff, has been completed by returning officers to ensure a fair and transparent election. After the preparations were finished, all polling officers, presiding officers and assistant presiding officers have been put on red alert at their residences and workplaces.
The sources said that the District Returning Officer has not yet received transportation for the polling staff and returning officers. The provision of office supplies could not be done due to the paucity of funds. Remuneration could not be paid to returning officers, office workers and teachers, who have completed training.
The District Returning Officer believes that upon receiving the funding, honoraria will be awarded to every member of the staff who performs duties. Due to a lack of transportation and funds, neither the presiding officers nor the polling staff have visited polling stations and the Department of Education has not yet set up polling stations.
In government schools, directives have been issued on all kinds of regulations.
Principals of schools where polling stations have been identified have refused to allow polling officials to visit and ballot papers have not been printed.
The District Election Commission said that a total of 2,770 polling stations have been established for 15 provincial seats in the Rawalpindi district, of which 974 for men 954 for women and 842 were combined. While 8387 polling booths have been established including 4,295 for men and 4,092 for women.
A total of 8,806 assistant presiding officers and 2,909 presiding officers, 2,770 assistants and 8,806 helps have been appointed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2023.
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