ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued the election schedule for Mayors and Deputy Mayors in district councils, municipal committees, town committees, municipal corporations, district municipal corporations and metropolitan corporations in Sindh.
According to a press release, the ECP called upon the members of the electoral college of concerned councils, committees and corporations to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Public notices will be issued by the returning officers on May 20, while nomination papers need to be filed by the returning officers with the returning officers on May 23-24. The deadline for filing appeals against decisions of the returning officers (i.e., accepting/rejecting the nomination papers) will be May 28, while the last date for appeal decisions is May 30. Any candidates must be withdrawn by May 31.
The revised list of candidates must be published by June 1, and polling will be held on June 8. The returning officer will declare the results on June 9. To ensure that the elections are conducted in accordance with the provisions of Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan directs that:
All Executive Authorities in the Federation and Provinces will neither announce any development project nor use state resources in Local Government Elections to influence the elections in favour of a particular candidate.
If any person in government service misuses his official position in any manner in order to influence results of the elections, he could be proceeded against under Section 68 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013.
No transfers/postings of the civil servants will be made after the issuance of election schedule of the Local Government Elections without prior approval of the commission till the publication of election results.
Any holder of public office, who is found to have violated any provision of election laws or the instructions issued by the ECP will be proceeded against as mandated in law.
The offices of the Election Commission as well as the offices of District Returning Officers and Returning Officers will remain open on all public holidays during the schedule period. All electoral activities mentioned in the aforesaid schedule shall be undertaken during office hours (07:30 AM to 04:30 PM) and the said timing will also be followed on public holidays fixed for any electoral activity of the schedule.
