Schedule in peril: ECP worried by impact of flooding on by-elections

Its officials have been asked to stay vigilant.

ISLAMABAD:

With rain wreaking havoc across vast swathes of territory and flood waters, once again, inundating low laying districts, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is concerned about the possible implications that the calamity may have on the August 22 by-elections.

The proximity of the polling date, now less than three weeks away, has prompted the election commission to ask its officials to take into account the impact of flooding on the election schedule. The decision comes amidst growing concern about flash floods which have so far claimed 58 lives.

“Provincial election commissioners have been asked by telephone to keep any eye out on the flood situation in their respective provinces,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune.

According to the official, the direction is meant to enable the ECP to take timely decision in case floods force a rescheduling of the bypolls. However, sounding a note of confidence, the source has revealed that so far no serious flood warning has been received from any of the constituencies where elections are scheduled.

The poll body had earlier issued a notification to hold by-elections in 42 constitutions of National and provincial assemblies on August 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2013.