Argument reinforced: ECP officials feel vindicated over phased LG election plea

Voice satisfaction over assistance extended by provincial govt, military and police during July 30 repoll

ISLAMABAD: Election officials claimed on Saturday that their calls for phased local government elections were reinforced by the smooth and trouble-free repolling conducted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa a day earlier.

The Election Commission of Pakistan issued a statement expressing its satisfaction over the assistance extended by the provincial government, Pakistan Army/FC and police authorities during the re-polling exercise. Polls were held in 356 polling stations of 15 districts for local government elections in K-P.

An ECP official told The Express Tribune this would support their plea before the SC requesting permission to hold upcoming local elections in Punjab and Sindh in phases.

Already, the ECP has filed a petition before the apex court on this matter. The court is expected to take up the plea next week. Massive administrative lapses were reported in K-P when polling for LG polls was initially held on May 30. Re-polling was ordered in 356 polling stations after complaints of mismanagement. ECP officials claim that it was due to shortage of security personnel that the May 30 polls were tainted.

Election officials pointed out that they had advised the K-P government to hold the LG polls in phases but their suggestion was ignored.

Delayed for almost 10 years now, LG polls in Punjab and Sindh were scheduled to be held on September 20. Schedule for these polls should have been issued early this week.

However, both provinces have moved an application in the apex court seeking another delay on the pretext of a flood threat in many districts. The ECP petition for holding polls in phases and another plea by Punjab and Sindh to delay the electoral exercise are likely to be taken up together by the Supreme Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2015.