The Election Commission of Pakistan considered today the demand of Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for holding Local Government Elections
Islamabad, the 22nd April 2015.- The Election Commission of Pakistan considered today the demand of Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for holding Local Government Elections under the supervision of judiciary, passed through resolution by the said Assembly on 16th April 2015 and declined it on the following grounds:
i- That the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has itself provided the provision under Rule-9 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Councils (Conduct 0f Elections) Rules, 2014 that “Commission shall appoint from amongst the officers of Federal Government, Provincial Government, Corporations controlled by any such Government, a District Returning Officer for each district and Returning Officers for councils etc.”
ii- That in the National Judicial Policy 2009, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan decided that “ In future the judiciary would avoid its involvement in the conduct of elections, as it distracts the judicial officers from professional duty and complaints of corrupt practices tarnish the image of judiciary”
2- Therefore, the Election Commission of Pakistan has appointed the District Returning Officers and Returning Officers amongst the Federal and Provincial Government etc. in the light of National Judicial Policy 2009 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Councils (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2014
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