—— 850 ROs and 144 DROs are currently under training, expected to be completed by Dec 19
—— Training came to halt after LHC’s polls-related order
—— Ban also imposed on holidays of govt officers, officials
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has resumed the training of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) across the country following the announcement of the election schedule.
According to the commission’s spokesperson, 850 ROs and 144 DROs are currently under training by senior ECP officers. The training is expected to be completed by December 19.
In the federal capital, a letter has been sent by DC Islamabad, in his capacity as a DRO, to the Federal Directorate of Education instructing that no staff be allowed to go on leave. Authorities have also been asked not to grant leaves to government employees, with maternity and medical leaves exempted from the order.
Concerned staff responsible for supervising electoral activities has been ordered to remain in the city where they have been posted till the February 8 polls.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on December 13, at the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), invalidated ECP’s notification of the appointment of the ROs and DROs for elections from the bureaucracy of Punjab. The LHC’s order immediately halted the training of election staff across the country.
However, the Supreme Court suspended the LHC’s order, allowing the ECP to continue the training of ROs, DROs and assistant returning officers (AROs). The ECP on Friday issued the election schedule for the 2024 general elections.
