ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN ANNOUNCES THAT ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON TIME

Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that elections will be held on time, ending months of uncertainty. The announcement is a crucial development for the country as it starts negotiations with the IMF to secure a second tranche of a bailout package.

The Commission is an ad hoc body but is expected to have independence and impartiality. Its members must be High Court judges and can't have any party-political affiliation.

FUNCTIONS

The Commission shall organize and conduct elections to the office of President, Parliament, Provincial Assemblies, and local government bodies. The Commission also must prepare and revise electoral rolls for these elections.

The highest authority at a polling station is the presiding officer, who ensures that observers, candidates, voters, and their agents abide by the code of conduct. They also oversee security arrangements and prepare a statement of count to be sent to the returning officers. They are responsible for liaison between themselves, the district election commissioner, and regional authorities.

The Election Commission of Pakistan also organizes seminars on disability inclusion, including training its permanent staff and sensitizing polling personnel. It has also committed to ensuring that all buildings owned or leased by the ECP are accessible and setting up an implementation plan. It will also allocate 2 percent of jobs to persons with disabilities. Moreover, it will ensure that all polling stations are on the ground floors to make them accessible to persons with disabilities.

MEMBERS

The Election Commission comprises a chief election commissioner and four members -- one from each of the four provinces. The chief election commissioner has the same official status as a judge of the Supreme Court. The president appoints the members after consultation with the prime minister and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

The new ECP member for Punjab is Babar Hassan Bharwana, who served as secretary of forestry, wildlife, fisheries, and irrigation in the government of Punjab. Retired Justice Ikramullah Khan is the new ECP member for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has said it is hopeful that the elections will take place in February next year, removing political uncertainty that could derail the IMF-backed bailout and wreak havoc on the country's fragile economy. The Commission has also said it will work on delimiting constituencies and updating the electoral rolls to ensure that election preparations are completed promptly.

ELECTIONS

The Commission organizes and conducts elections to the National Assembly, provincial assemblies, and local governments. It also prepares electoral rolls and revises them periodically. It is also responsible for ensuring that the elections are conducted honestly, relatively, and in accordance with the law and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

The election date has been set for the last week of January, after a 54-day campaign period. Previously, the election had been scheduled for November but was delayed after the Election Commission of Pakistan needed more time to redraw constituencies after the population census.

The president's lawyer argued that the Commission violated the constitution by not consulting him before announcing the election date. However, the Chief Justice ruled that the presidential letter needed to state whether or not the CEC had been consulted clearly. The Commission must now consult the president and return to court with a new election date. The president is expected to give his approval to the election date.

APPEALS

Pakistan's top court has ruled that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not commit an unconstitutional act when it delayed elections. The apex court said it was the constitutional right of the Commission to decide when elections would be held, Reuters reports.

But HRW says the Commission has taken virtually no action on allegations of widespread harassment of opposition candidates, police obstruction of opposition rallies, and the removal of lawful opposition banners and billboards. It also says the Commission has not adequately addressed the issue of electoral fraud.

The PTI team has asked the ECP to grant time to submit their answers in the Toshakhana reference, which alleges that Khan bought gifts from the market and sold them to make money. The Election Commission of Pakistan has scheduled the hearing for August 29.