The commission informed the court that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan had expressed its inability to print the required quantity of ballot papers within the timeframe. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:
While the Supreme Court is to hear a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) today seeking two- to three-month delay in the deadline for local bodies elections, the commission on Monday issued a modified schedule for Sindh.
The rest of the schedule for Sindh will remain the same – till further court orders – except for the polling day which is now December 7, instead of November 27. However, many believe that this new date is still irrational.
The amended schedule was announced hours after a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, referred to the ECP the Sindh government’s plea for extension in the LG polls date.
The commission, in its petition, prayed that holding credible elections were not possible on the schedule it announced on the directive of the Supreme Court earlier.
The ECP said there were many lacunae in the local government laws of Punjab and Sindh while both provinces had not finalised the delimitations. “They are also yet to reconcile their electoral rolls accordingly,” it said.
The chief justice remarked that the delay in the LG election caused a serious loss to the country as there were no local governments for many years.
“Local government election is a requirement under Article 148 of Constitution and you violate it by not holding it for years,” he said.
The ECP argued that the delimitation of union councils and wards was still in progress and the provincial governments were continuously making changes in the local areas.
The commission informed the court that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan had expressed its inability to print the required quantity of ballot papers within the timeframe.
“Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) has also sought time to prepare magnetised ink for thumb impressions,” the ECP added.
The ECP officials hope that given the ground realities, a relief from the apex court is expected in their main petition after National and Sindh assemblies have passed resolutions to substantiate their plea seeking more time to hold local government polls, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces.
Amid sheer confusion the intending candidates are already running from pillar to post for filing nomination papers. Today (Tuesday) is the last date for filing nominations in Sindh and Punjab.
Another petition filed
Another constitutional petition has been filed in the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry with a plea to delay holding of local government elections in the country in light of a resolution passed by National Assembly. The Lawyers Foundation for Justice filed this petition.
Preparations in Balochistan
The process for scrutinising the nominations papers concluded in the province on Monday. In total 22,274 candidates submitted their papers for a total 7,189 seats across the province.
According to a list obtained by The Express Tribune from Provincial Election Commissioner, only 21 candidates submitted nomination papers in the earthquake-stricken Awaran district.
Chaos in Pindi
In Rawalpindi district, the process of filing nomination papers started on Monday. Just one day is left to file nominations, while only 590 candidates have filed their candidatures for 260 union councils of the district.
Due to lack of information, most candidates did not know at which office they should submit their papers. Even candidates from Gujjar Khan and Murree have come to the city to file papers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2013.
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All these problems will not arise if voting is allowed by phones. A proposal to do this was sent to the PM many weeks ago, but his office has not responded. The proposal is practical and very low in cost. The required infrastructure to do this is already in place.