ISLAMABAD: The Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued schedule for the first phase of local government (LG) elections in Sindh, setting June 26 as the day for polling.

Under the first phase, elections will be held in 14 districts of Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions. They are Jacobabad, Kambar, Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Larkana, Kashmor, Ghotki, Khairpur, Sukkur, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.

Public notices inviting nominations will be issued by the returning officers on April 28 and nomination papers can be submitted to the relevant returning officers from May 10 to 13, whereas scrutiny will be carried out from May 16 to 18.

Appeals against acceptance or rejection of the papers will be filed from May 19 to 21, which will be decided by the tribunals comprising respective district and sessions judges by May 25.

Polling to be held in 14 districts on June 26; ECP issues code of conduct

May 27 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidature and the final list of contesting candidates will be issued the same day, while election symbols will be allotted the following day.

Schedule for the second phase covering 16 other districts will be issued later.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had announced in March that it would hold the LG elections in Sindh in two phases.

Last month, the Sindh cabinet approved further amendments to the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, making next Karachi mayor a member of the governing bodies of city development authorities and the chairman of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The amendments came after the PPP government promised to address the concerns of the opposition parties following a 29-day protest by Jamaat-i-Islami outside the Sindh Assembly.

The Pak Sarzameen Party also took to the streets and staged a sit-in for a week near Fawara Chowk.

The ECP has also issued a code of conduct for the polls in Sindh to ensure that elections are conducted honestly and fairly in accordance with the law and to ensure that corrupt practices are guarded against.

It directed all executive authorities in the federation as well as the provinces to neither announce any development project nor use state resources during the local government elections.

“If any person in government service misuses his official position in any manner in order to influence results of the elections, he shall be liable to be proceeded against under the law,” the code of conduct warned.

Ban has also been imposed on the transfer and posting of government officers and those in autonomous bodies/authorities in divisions for which election schedules had been issued.

The election code also barred government officers and officials from taking leave without the prior approval of the ECP till the publication of election results.

“In case leave has already been sanctioned, the officer will not relinquish his charge without the approval of the Hon’ble Commission,” the code stated.

Meanwhile, offices of the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as those of district returning officers and returning officers would remain open on public holidays, including Sunday, if any activity provided in the schedule falls on that day.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022