ISLAMABAD (republic news) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would hold elections by Oct 11 if assemblies were dissolved on Aug 12, said ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Hameed said the ECP would keep in touch with the press before the general elections, adding that the ECP had placed 60 recommendations before the electoral reforms committee. “All our recommendations have been approved,” he said.
He said it would be implausible to comment before the electoral watchdog’s recommendations were formally approved, adding that the ECP was ready to hold general elections. “The ECP will take four months for demarcation if the new census is approved,” he said.
ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain told the presser that the judiciary had been requested to spare judicial officers to perform duties as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs). Watermark papers have been procured for ballot papers, and other essential election materials have been obtained. A draft list of polling stations and a data bank of polling staff has been prepared, and coordination with presses for the printing of ballot papers and nomination papers has been completed.
To a query, he ruled out the possibility of fresh delimitation of constituencies before the electoral exercise and said elections would be held under the previous census and delimitation.
Hussian said elections would align with the electoral reforms expected to be approved shortly by the parliament.
To question the trend of electoral candidates exceeding the limits of expenses set by the law, he said that a monitoring mechanism was in place, and there would be a check on those violating the law.