report n The News, Nov 24, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday said it was ready for the conduct of general elections on February 8 and directed acquiring services of the army to ensure security of voters during the poll process.
The commission has completed hearing of representations regarding the preliminary report of the delimitation of constituencies and will publish the final list by November 30, as decided already.
It emphasized that in case of shortage of the police force, timely alternative arrangements should be ensured and services of the Pakistan Army should also be taken during the general elections so that people can exercise their right to vote in full security and peace.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired an ECP meeting here at the Central Secretariat to take stock of preparations for the upcoming general elections. Besides the four ECP members, the meeting was attended by the ECP secretary, election commissioner Punjab and other officers, whereas the election commissioners of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan attended the meeting through video link.
The meeting was informed that the commission had completed the hearing on all representations/objections on the initial delimitation and in the light of ECP decisions, the list of final constituencies will be published on November 30. Likewise, printing of more final electoral rolls is going on at Nadra and their delivery will be ensured till the election program.
In addition, according to the law, the commission has approved the code of conduct after consultation with political parties, which will be formally notified in the next few days.
The commission was told that the training plan of district returning officers, returning officers and polling staff was ready and timely training of election officials would be ensured. Similarly, necessary arrangements for printing of ballot papers have been completed and purchase of election material has also been completed. And the commission is ready to hold elections.
The forum expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made so far for the upcoming elections and ordered that a complete mechanism should be put in place for the delivery of electoral rolls to returning officers to ensure timely delivery of electoral rolls.
The commission said complete details should be taken within a week on deployment of law-enforcement agencies and the related role of provincial governments to ensure peace and public order during the elections.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1131998-ecp-ready-for-polls-seeks-army-s-help-to-ensure-peace
