Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a formal directive notifying continuation of the ban on new recruitments and diversion of development funds.
It has‚ however‚ clarified that all vacancies‚ which were advertised on or before 31st of August last year‚ are outside the purview of the ban and may be filled-in.
It says all appointments shall be made strictly in accordance with the rules applicable to such appointments and purely on merit.
The institutions established under the Constitution are exempted from the ban on recruitments.
The Commission says requests from ministries‚ divisions‚ departments or institutions of the Federal Government or any department or institution of any provincial or local government including health and education department will be considered on case-to-case basis by the Election Commission.
About diversions of funds‚ it says no funds will be diverted from an ongoing project to a new or existing development project in any constituency.
The directive said the development projects already in progress may continue without interruption where no diversion of funds is required.
Requests from foreign donors to divert funds from one project to another will be considered by the Commission on case-to-case basis.
Diversion of funds in respect of projects of strategic importance will also be considered by the Election Commission on case-to-case basis.