Polling staff resume duties after SC ruling

RAWALPINDI:

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, all district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs), and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) assigned to oversee polls on 7 National Assembly and 14 Punjab Assembly seats in the twin cities have officially resumed their duties.

According to sources, an urgent retraining process for these officers is currently underway. Commencing on Tuesday, December 19, these ROs will begin the distribution of nomination papers to potential candidates.

It is noteworthy that there will be no charge for the nomination paper forms, and they will be provided free of cost to all candidates. Receipt of the nomination paper forms is slated to commence on December 20.

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The deputy commissioner, also serving as the district returning officer for Rawalpindi, has called for a meeting with all ROs and assistant returning officers (AROs) tomorrow.

The meeting aims to review fool-proof security measures to ensure transparent elections. In Islamabad, one DRO, three ROs, and six AROs have been designated for three National Assembly seats, while Rawalpindi district has been assigned one DRO, 21 ROs, and 42 AROs for the 7 National Assembly and 14 Provincial Assembly seats.

All these officials are on duty until February 15, with vacations cancelled.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2023.