Polling staff in K-P abandons training

Warning issued after 6.6% staffers leave training without notice

PESHAWAR:

The Election Commission in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has decided to take action against polling staff who have been absent from the polling training being provided for the forthcoming general election.

Sources said that around 6.6 per cent of the polling staff hired from the Education Department stopped attending the training without informing the authorities.

Taking notice of the situation, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Election Commissioner Shamshad Khan expressed annoyance and asked the provincial chief secretary to take strong disciplinary action against the absentees. The chief secretary directed the deputy commissioners to suspend the absent staff. Necessary instructions have also been issued to the Higher Education Commission and the Education Department to provide necessary staff for poll duties.

The sources said that out of 33,480 presiding and assistant presiding officers, training of 23,810 staff has been completed while 6.6 per cent staff abandoned the training half way through.

Over 100,000 assistant presiding officers and other polling staff have already completed their training. The training, started on December 25, is being carried out at 125 centres and is likely to be completed by February.

Read Polling staff resume duties after SC ruling

Meanwhile, K-P’s Joint Election Commissioner Aziz Bahadur highlighted the importance of observers in holding of fair and transparent elections and said registered associations can submit requests for accreditation in this regard.

He was talking to a delegation of the K-P Women Commission led by Nasreen Khattak in Peshawar the other day.

During the meeting, the delegation informed the commissioner about low turn-out of women voters and problems being faced by them in the election process.

The delegation also submitted recommendations to ensure participation of women in the election and removal of hurdles in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, Nasreen Khattak said she would personally visit some constituencies to monitor polling arrangements.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2024.