The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will declare the election schedule on December 17 (Sunday), and nomination papers will be submitted the next day.
According to the magazine, the electoral watchdog will need 54 days to finish the process before voting for provincial and national assemblies on February 8, 2024.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is gearing up for the upcoming elections, and according to Article 220 of the Constitution, federal and provincial governments are obligated to assist the ECP in its electoral functions.
The chief election commissioner has intensified preparations, establishing communication hotlines and organizing training sessions for district returning officers and returning officers.
Training covers a comprehensive range of topics, including the utilization of sophisticated communication systems. The ECP, comprising 142 district returning officers and 859 returning officers, is committed to ensuring well-trained personnel for the electoral process. The commission has also imposed a ban on deputy commissioner transfers and postings nationwide.
Furthermore, the ECP has directed members of parliament and provincial assemblies in Sindh and Balochistan to submit their yearly statements of assets and liabilities, along with those of their spouses and dependent children, by December 31, 2023. This requirement, mandated by Section 137 of the Elections Act, 2017, applies to the financial years 2022-2023.
The prescribed Form-B and guidelines are available for free at various government offices and can be downloaded from the ECP’s official website. As the country anticipates the February 8 general elections, the ECP affirms its readiness to conduct free, fair, and transparent polls.