Floods may change by-polls scheme, all parties to submit details by Aug 29: ECP
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday sought the polling scheme from the Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the deployment of military personnel at polling stations during the by-elections.
According to sources, an ECP delegation led by Director General for Elections Syed Sher Afgan visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawapindi and held a detailed meeting with the army officials to review matters pertaining to army deployment during the by-polls.
During the meeting, GHQ approved the ECP’s request and extended full cooperation for conducting by-elections which are scheduled for August 22 on 16 National Assembly and 26 provincial assemblies’ seats.
Sources said the army high-ups would decide where to deploy military personnel after the provision of polling scheme by the ECP.
Meanwhile, the ECP Secretariat has sought a report from all provincial election commissioners regarding polling stations in the flood-hit constituencies.
“After reviewing the report, we will decide where by elections can be held and where not,” said ECP spokesman Khurshid Alam.
The ECP has also directed all returning officers to make a list of polling stations where the election would have to be rescheduled due to the floods.
Meanwhile, the ECP has reminded all political parties to submit their account statements.
So far, only two out of the total 230 registered parties have submitted their account statement to the ECP.
Under Article 13 of the Political Parties Order 2002, all registered political parties are bound to submit a consolidated statement of the party’s accounts, duly audited by a chartered accountant, within 60 days from the end of each financial year.
The last date for filing the account statement is August 29.
