Pakistan Election Commission Seeks Assistance for General Elections, Sets Guidelines
Pakistan’s Election Commission has called on the federal and provincial interim governments to provide assistance for the upcoming general elections in accordance with the law. As the national and provincial assemblies have been dissolved, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a set of guidelines to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls.
According to the ECP, it is crucial for the election commission to take all necessary constitutional and legal steps in organizing the general elections. In this regard, the interim governments have been instructed to comply with all notifications, directives, and provisions of Section 230 of the election law, which outlines the functions of a caretaker government.
Furthermore, the caretaker governments are prohibited from posting or transferring any public official without the prior written approval of the Election Commission. They are also barred from announcing or executing new development schemes at the federal and provincial levels, with exceptions for ongoing projects approved before the issuance of the ECP notification. The commission can consider vital schemes on a case-by-case basis.
The interim setups have been directed to terminate the services of all politically-appointed heads of institutions and submit these cases to the ECP for approval. Additionally, former prime ministers, chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, and former members of assemblies are required to vacate their government-provided residential facilities. The official vehicles provided to them have been withdrawn, along with their security and protocol.
The notification issued by the Election Commission emphasizes that caretaker governments must not attempt to influence the elections or engage in any activities that may adversely affect the fairness and freedom of the electoral process.
The general elections are scheduled to be held within 90 days, but the timeline may be extended as the ECP is obligated to carry out delimitation after the completion of the new census.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has urged the ECP to conduct the delimitation process transparently, emphasizing that it is a matter of public interest. These remarks were made in relation to an old petition concerning errors and illegalities in the delimitation of Shikarpur district in Sindh.
The Election Commission’s guidelines aim to ensure that the general elections are conducted efficiently and in full compliance with the law. With the dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies, the interim governments hold the responsibility of providing the necessary support to ensure a smooth electoral process. The Election Commission is committed to upholding the principles of free and fair elections and expects the interim governments to act accordingly in order to maintain the integrity of the democratic process in Pakistan.
