Behind schedule: ECP yet to compile final list of candidates

Printing of ballot papers can only start after final list is prepared

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is yet to publish the final list of candidates and symbols allotted to them for the local government (LG) elections in the capital, scheduled for November 30.

According to the schedule, ECP was supposed to finalise the list on November 11, however the list had not been published when this report was filed.

The office of district returning officer (DRO) on Friday said the process could take another day.

Islamabad District Election Commissioner Aleem Shahab was earlier appointed by the ECP as DRO for conducting the first-ever local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

A senior ECP official said the election body will initiate the process of printing of ballot papers after it receives the final list by the DRO. “The delay will ultimately hold up the process of printing of ballot papers,” he commented.

An ECP spokesperson said that returning officers had published their respective final lists on November 11. He added that publication of the final list by the DRO was not mandatory as per the law.

Another senior official, however, contended the claim saying ROs submit their lists with the DRO, who in turn submit the final list to the ECP. And the ECP on the basis of list submitted by the DRO initiates the process of printing ballot papers.

Further, he said the commission had also yet to publish the final list of candidates taking part in the second phase of LG polls in Sindh, scheduled on November 19.

He said similar delays were witnessed on behalf of the ECP during first phase of the local government elections in Punjab and Sindh.

He deplored that the ECP seemed incapable of following the schedule it announced itself for only 50 union councils of the capital.

On the other hand, the ECP on Friday also announced to extend the polling time for ICT elections. Polling will begin at 7am and continue till 5:30pm without any break.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2015.