LG polls: ECP finalises ROs for Punjab, Sindh

Set to issue election programme for the first phase in the two provinces today.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday finalised returning officers (ROs) who would be supervising the long-delayed local government (LG) polls process in Punjab and Sindh.

The poll supervisory body declined the requests of the provincial governments for replacement of some of the ROs, an official handout issued by the ECP media cell said.

“The election commission has declined the requests of the provincial government/provincial election commissioners (PECs) Punjab and Sindh for replacements of district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) and directed that proposal for any change if so required in the public interest may be sent to this commission for approval with full justification and cogent reasons.”

The ECP would be issuing election programme for the first phase of LG polls in both the provinces on Wednesday (today). The top electoral body in its tentative schedule had already announced the date of polling for all the three phases. In the first phase a total of 20 districts, 12 in Punjab and 8 in Sindh, would go for polls on October 31. Elections for the second and third phases will be held on November 19 and December 20 respectively,

The ECP also said that DROs, ROs and AROs have been asked to accomplish their duties in accordance with the provision of law and maintain impartiality.

“Severe action will be taken against those DROs/ROs/AROs who avoid to perform this national task,” said the statement citing the poll commission’s directions to the ROs.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2015.