KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is currently facing a shortage of election staff for the different national and provincial constituencies of Korangi district that is likely to affect the holding of free, fair and transparent general elections scheduled for July 25, 2018.
In this regard, the Returning Officer (RO) for PS-98 Korangi Karachi VII NA-239 and NA 241 Javed Hussain has forwarded a letter to the Sindh Chief Secretary Major (r) Azam Suleman requesting him to immediately intervene into the most urgent issue and direct the authorities concerned to take action against those involved.
“As you are aware that process of general election 2018 is going on throughout the country. In this regard, teaching and non-teaching staff of secondary/higher secondary/lower secondary/primary and technical (polytechnical and vocational) and college side and DMC Korangi and Landhi zone has been assigned their duties at PS-98 Korangi Karachi VII, NA-239 and NA 241,” the letter said.
According to the official letter, the list of the staff has already been provided to the concerned officers of Taluka Education Landhi, Korangi Talukas and other officials.
“I had also called their district heads. They were directed to provide the staff but they took resort to ifs and buts. With only five days remaining to the greatest national cause, I invite your attention to the above situation and require your immediate intervention to meet the shortage of staff”, the Returning Officer added.
“This is therefore to seek your valuable intervention and to take up the matter on urgent motion preferably today and be pleased to issue directions to the concerned quarters overcome short-fall of the staff”, the letter further stated.
The RO also requested the chief secretary to issue necessary directions to stop payment of salaries of absent staff, details of which will be submitted in due course of time.
Separately, the RO, has also forwarded letter to MIT-II, Sindh High Court (Elections Complaint Cell), District and Session Judge Karachi East, Sindh election commissioner , Schools Education secretary , College Education secretary, Information secretary , Korangi deputy commissioner , district education officer and others requesting them to take action against the absent officials so that the elections be held free, fair and transparent.
