Balochistan local bodies: Poll commissioner issues code, schedule
ECP sets Rs30,000 as expense limit for each candidate participating in local bodies elections.
Poll comissioner issues code of conduct and schedule for Balochistan local bodies elections. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA/ISLAMABAD:
Balochistan Election Commissioner on Thursday announced the schedule and code of conduct for the upcoming local government elections in the province.
The party-based elections, which are likely to take place on December 7, will be held at metropolitan Quetta, four municipal corporations and 54 municipal committees, district councils. “The government machinery and political parties will not be allowed to influence the elections,” Chief Election Commissioner Balochistan categorically said at a press conference.
Balochistan CEC Syed Sultan Bayazeed told reporters, “The nomination papers are to be filed by November 6 and ECP will receive the documents of the candidates on November 7 and 8. We will then issue a final list on November 9.”
He added that holding the polls in the earthquake-hit areas might pose a problem but assured that the exercise will still be conducted on time.
He said that neither the federal not the provincial government could influence the elections since no transfer or posting can be made without the election commissioner’s consultation.
The provincial election commissioner said that the electoral body expected approximately 3.3 million voters will use their right. “Election Commission will use white ballot paper for the rural areas and green for urban ones.”
He said that Quetta is a Metropolitan Corporation while Khuzdar, Qilla Abdullah, Kech and Pishin are being given the status of Municipal Corporation. All other districts, he said, would remain District Councils. He added that Balochistan would be divided into 7,078 general wards. Each union council will comprise at least seven and maximum 15 wards.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has asked the province to clarify whether it wanted direct elections for seats reserved for women, non-Muslims, peasants and workers seats or wanted members to be elected indirectly.
The Local Government Act of Balochistan specifies that besides general seats, the local councils will have representation of women, minorities, peasants and workers.
ECP rules
Election authorities also announced that candidates contesting for the polls can spend up to Rs30,000 on their campaigns.
Setting unrealistic goals once again, the limit was fixed in the rules prepared by the Balochistan Assembly after it passed the act, officials said.
Similar rules were laid down by the electoral body during the general elections when the law fixed the maximum expenditure of a National Assembly candidate at Rs1.5 million whereas the expenditure on an election campaign for a provincial assembly candidate had to be within the Rs1 million limit.
The ECP, however, has never tried to verify these expenses.
This time too, ECP has warned candidates of legal implications in case they fail to comply with the electoral body’s rules.
Every candidate contesting for the polls in the province would have to submit Rs2,000 fee along with nomination papers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2013.
Balochistan Election Commissioner on Thursday announced the schedule and code of conduct for the upcoming local government elections in the province.
The party-based elections, which are likely to take place on December 7, will be held at metropolitan Quetta, four municipal corporations and 54 municipal committees, district councils. “The government machinery and political parties will not be allowed to influence the elections,” Chief Election Commissioner Balochistan categorically said at a press conference.
Balochistan CEC Syed Sultan Bayazeed told reporters, “The nomination papers are to be filed by November 6 and ECP will receive the documents of the candidates on November 7 and 8. We will then issue a final list on November 9.”
He added that holding the polls in the earthquake-hit areas might pose a problem but assured that the exercise will still be conducted on time.
He said that neither the federal not the provincial government could influence the elections since no transfer or posting can be made without the election commissioner’s consultation.
The provincial election commissioner said that the electoral body expected approximately 3.3 million voters will use their right. “Election Commission will use white ballot paper for the rural areas and green for urban ones.”
He said that Quetta is a Metropolitan Corporation while Khuzdar, Qilla Abdullah, Kech and Pishin are being given the status of Municipal Corporation. All other districts, he said, would remain District Councils. He added that Balochistan would be divided into 7,078 general wards. Each union council will comprise at least seven and maximum 15 wards.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has asked the province to clarify whether it wanted direct elections for seats reserved for women, non-Muslims, peasants and workers seats or wanted members to be elected indirectly.
The Local Government Act of Balochistan specifies that besides general seats, the local councils will have representation of women, minorities, peasants and workers.
ECP rules
Election authorities also announced that candidates contesting for the polls can spend up to Rs30,000 on their campaigns.
Setting unrealistic goals once again, the limit was fixed in the rules prepared by the Balochistan Assembly after it passed the act, officials said.
Similar rules were laid down by the electoral body during the general elections when the law fixed the maximum expenditure of a National Assembly candidate at Rs1.5 million whereas the expenditure on an election campaign for a provincial assembly candidate had to be within the Rs1 million limit.
The ECP, however, has never tried to verify these expenses.
This time too, ECP has warned candidates of legal implications in case they fail to comply with the electoral body’s rules.
Every candidate contesting for the polls in the province would have to submit Rs2,000 fee along with nomination papers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2013.