SANGHAR: In compliance with an order issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Sindh government on Thursday withdrew its earlier notification transferring the Sanghar Deputy Commissioner, Umar Farooq Bullo.

The ECP had taken serious notice of the transfer ahead of the by-election on PS-81 (Sanghar-cum-Mirpurkhas) declaring it a violation of the prescribed rules.

The DC, who was also supposed to act as the district returning officer for the election, was believed to have been sent on forced leave by the provincial government.

He has resumed the charge of his office on Thursday, 24 days after he was removed.

A press statement reminded the government that under the ECP rules, no official directly engaged in the conduct of election could be posted or transferred after issuance of the schedule of an election.

The ECP postponed the April 20 PS-81 by-election, as well as other local government elections, in Sanghar district over removal of the DRO.

It also issued a contempt notice to the provincial secretary concerned over non-compliance of its order of holding the transfer notification in abeyance to hand over the charge of the DC to ADC Sanghar-I Zohaib Mushtaque.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2017