Ballot: Local government election details finalised

‘The election code of conduct will be implemented in letter and spirit.’

LAHORE:

“The local government elections will be conducted in accordance with the newly amended Local Government Act 2013 for Punjab,” Provincial Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwer said on Friday.

Speaking at a media briefing, Anwer said the province had one metropolitan corporation, 11 municipal corporations, 35 district councils, 171 municipal committees and 4,028 union councils.

He said exclusive ballot papers would be printed, bearing the names and symbols of the candidates, for each constituency.



The printing would commence after the returning officers issued final lists of contesting candidates, he said. Anwer said 36 district returning officers, 691 returning officers, and 707 assistant returning officers would help conduct the elections in the province.  “There are 143 appellate authorities for timely disposal of appeals regarding acceptance and rejection of nomination papers.”

Code of conduct

The election commissioner said candidates who had submitted the candidature fee during earlier election schedule were not required to submit the fee again.

“The security fees for candidates is from Rs2,000 to Rs20,000…the total budget for campaigning cannot exceed Rs200,000,” he said.



Anwer said display of arms and firing gun shots would not be allowed.

The election commissioner further said that the advertisement banners would not exceed 3x9 ft and hoarding 3x5 ft. He said the election code of conduct would be implemented in letter and spirit. “Candidates found violating it will be disqualified,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2013.