The ECP stated that that no transfer or postings of civil servants shall be made after the issuance of the local bodies’ election schedule until the official announcement of results, without ECP’s prior approval. PHOTO: ECP.GOV.PK
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) honoured a commitment it made to the Supreme Court to hold local government elections in Punjab on January 30 and issued the schedule on Monday. Punjab managed to complete all the prerequisites needed.
However, Sindh is dilly-dallying on the issue as the provincial cabinet decided on Monday to hold the polls in March, instead of the January 18 date decided by the Supreme Court and the ECP.
“Sindh has asked for a further delay in holding the LG polls till March but we will announce the schedule on December 13,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune. The ECP secretary has asked Sindh to approach the apex court for a change in the schedule, otherwise the polls will be held on January 18, the official said.
The polls have been delayed a number of times but the ECP had finally submitted before the Supreme Court last month that elections in Sindh and Punjab will be held on Jan 18 and Jan 30, respectively. It further said that it would complete the LG polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, cantonment areas and Islamabad Capital Territory before the end of February.
According to the ECP schedule for Punjab, candidates could receive nomination papers from Dec 20 to 27. The scrutiny of papers would take place between Dec 30 and Jan 4. Appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers would be filed from Jan 6 to 7. The nomination papers could be withdrawn on Jan 12 and the final list of the candidates would be published the next day, on Jan 13.
The ECP official said that Punjab made several changes in its rules that included party-based polls and deciding over the ward system of polls, instead of panels.
While announcing schedule, the poll body has also issued a code of conduct to ensure that elections are held justly, fairly and in accordance with the law.
The commission has barred all executive authorities in the federation and the provinces from using state resources to influence elections in favour of a particular candidate. “If any person in the government service misuses his position in any manner to influence results of the elections, he shall be liable to be proceeded against under Section 61 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013,” the schedule said.
The ECP stated that that no transfer or postings of civil servants shall be made after the issuance of the local bodies’ election schedule until the official announcement of results, without ECP’s prior approval.
After the schedule has been issued, the prime minister, governor, chief minister, speaker, federal and provincial ministers, advisers to the prime minister and chief minister, or any other holder of public office will not visit the area where polls are scheduled to announce a development scheme or to campaign for any candidate or political party, it explained.
Sindh cabinet meeting
The Sindh cabinet decided on Monday that it was not possible for the provincial government to make all arrangements for LG elections for the Jan 18 scheduled date.
After the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon briefed the media at the Chief Minister House. According to the Local Government Act, the provincial government has to decide the schedule after consulting the ECP, he said. “We hope the ECP will consider the Sindh government’s request.”
Justifying the decision, Memon said elections in haste mean mismanagement. “You can see what happened in Balochistan and we don’t want such elections in Sindh,” he maintained.
He said the provincial government wanted fair and transparent LG elections in the province, adding it needs more time so that political parties could participate.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2013.
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It is very shocking that Sind Government seems unwilling to hold local body election in the province while local governments are considered the basic ingredients of a democratic system. It is also regrettable that military rulers allowed local governments to function well for the welfare of people and LGPs has been held on regular basis during military regimes but when a democratic government come into power LG Polls are not allowed deliberately. It is against the spirit of democracy. I hope Election Commission of Pakistan will not tolerate further delay for holding LG Polls in Sind as well.