Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said that the government was unable to print 500 million ballot papers for the upcoming local government elections in a stipulated time.
“Issues of integrity will be raised if the government gets involved in printing of ballot papers. Moreover, printing more than 500 million ballot papers is not possible in 20 to 25 days,” the minister added.
However, he said: “the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should do the printing itself. It is a very capable institution and should be able to solve the problem.”
“The government will provide support to the ECP in terms of funds as well as printing facilities but it will not get involved in the printing itself,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah disagreeing with the government on Thursday said: “holding of local body elections is responsibility of the government.”
Speaking on a Point of Order, he said: “printing of ballot papers from private press is not acceptable as it will raise question mark on the credibility of ECP.”
Leader of the Opposition further added: “it has been reported by the media that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) was unable to print the ballot papers in a short span of time.”
“If local body elections are conducted on the ballot papers printed by the private press, the opposition will not accept it and will move a resolution in the parliament,” he categorically stated.
It should be mentioned that earlier the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had sent a request to the cabinet division to arrange printing of 410 million ballot papers for the local bodies (LB) elections.
The cabinet division secretary in response said it was not possible for the government to print such a huge number of ballot papers in a short time.
The development casts doubt over the holding of local government elections on the dates announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday. The ECP had announced that local bodies’ polls will be held on November 27 and December 7 in Sindh and Punjab, respectively.
According to the schedule‚ nomination papers will be received on 11th and 12th of this month. Objections against nomination papers can be filed on 13th while scrutiny would take place from 16th to 18th of this month. Final list of candidates is scheduled to be notified on 25th of this month.
