ECP to get powers over ROs, polling staff, law enforcement personnel

The committee has also recommended giving more powers to ECP over allotment of election symbols


Irfan Ghauri November 18, 2014

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of a parliamentary panel on electoral reforms on Tuesday decided that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should get more control over Returning Officers (RO), polling staff and on duty security personnel.

Sub-committee of the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms in its meeting on Tuesday decided to recommend amendment to laws relating to ROs and polling staff whereby they would come under the commission.

“ECP would be empowered to take necessary action against misconduct of returning officers, electoral staff and law enforcement personnel directly,” Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, who heads the sub-committee, told reporters after its in-camera meeting.

The eight-member sub committee, comprising of senior lawmakers from both houses of parliament, is vetting and finalising recommendations to reform the electoral system.

Over 1,200 recommendations were put forward by various stakeholders to the 33-member committee headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The parliamentary had formed a smaller panel to finalise the electoral reforms package, which would recommend amendments in the Constitution and election laws to revamp the outdated electoral system.

Getting ROs and polling staff under its authority was a long standing demand of the ECP. While the ECP can appoint such officers, the current framework does not allow it to take any action against them.

In the aftermath of the 2013 general elections, fingers were pointed towards the conduct of returning officers, who were taken from the lower judiciary.  Accusatory fingers were also pointed towards thousands of polling staff works for ECP on polling day, most of whom are taken from education and other government departments.

In case of any complaint against any of these officials, ECP under the prevailing law, can only complain to their parent department.

Similarly, personnel of the law enforcement agencies employed during election do not fall under ECP’s authority, and in case of any misconduct, the commission can only file a complaint against them with their parent department.

The poll body also hires the services of government officials to update its voters list and demarcate boundaries of constituencies.

ECP officials believe that this lack of power had previously bared the body from practically having administrative control over those officials who actually conduct elections on the ground.

The sub-committee’s proposed amendments would enable ECP to exert direct control over these officials and take punitive action if any of them is found involved in manipulating polls.

Further, the committee has recommended giving additional powers to ECP over allotment of election symbols. It has been decided that in future, the election symbol will be allotted to a party permanently and no independent candidate would be allotted a symbol that has already been allotted to a registered political party.

COMMENTS (2)

Saiqa | 9 years ago | Reply

Good job PMLn.

Raghu | 9 years ago | Reply

Thanks to PMLn for it has allowed greater autonomy to ECP. However, PTI and its liar dictator Imran Khan will take credit fir this as well, even though they did not attend any committee meetings. Not voting for PTI again.

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