ECP gets ready for timely elections

Procures election material and paper for printing ballot papers

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held a high-level meeting on Monday, where it was revealed that the ECP is fully prepared to conduct elections in the country as scheduled. The commission has already procured election materials and paper for printing ballot papers. In addition, they have been working on preparing a draft list of polling stations.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired the meeting, attended by the ECP secretary and other senior officers of the polls supervisory body. All the four provincial members of the ECP participated in the meeting through video link.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, the ECP secretary told the participants that the polls authority is in contact with all the departments including the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) in connection with the preparation, printing and transportation of the electoral rolls.

He said the ECP will soon issue notification with regard to appointment of district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs), and assistant returning officers (AROs). The ECP has formed a database with regard to deployment of polling staff.

The secretary said the ECP had purchased election material and paper for ballot papers and stored them in secure places. The draft list of polling stations has also been prepared.

This list will be shared with the ROs once they are notified. The final list will be issued as per law after hearing the voters’ objections and suggestions.

According to the law, the final date for voters’ registration, deletion of names or correction is July 13, 2023. In this regard the ECP has launched a public awareness campaign.

The ECP is coordinating with all the provincial governments, the federal government and other related institutions in order to ensure that elections are held in time.

The meeting expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made so far. The participants laid stress on completing the process on time.

The participants were also briefed regarding holding local government (LG) elections in Punjab province and Quetta district. The ECP was told that the Balochistan government has to issue a notification in line with the Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) order dated December 23, 2022.

The ECP has to provide details as to the number of towns and seats in Quetta. The polls authority will start work on demarcation of Quetta after that.

The meeting directed the ECP secretary to contact the Balochistan chief secretary in this regard today to ensure the immediate delimitation of Quetta district.

The ECP was told that the registration of electoral groups in Punjab will be complete on July 17.

Once the caretaker provincial government provides funds for the elections and makes security arrangements, the ECP will issue the schedule for the LG elections.

The meeting directed the secretary to contact the Punjab government in this regard and ensure that the local body elections are held in the province on time.