ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Chief Election Commissioner, Irshad Hasan Khan, on Friday issued special directives to the returning officers, asking them to ensure proper distribution of election material and ballot boxes to the presiding officers.

Upon the apprehensions expressed by some political parties regarding the distribution of election material, the CEC also directed the ROs to set up separate counters for female polling staff for effective distribution of election material among them.

They have also been told to make adequate seating arrangements for the polling staff who have to wait for collection of election material, and to ensure that distribution of material is arranged in a hall or in some educational institution.

The CEC also directed that the presiding officers and other polling staff be treated by the ROs with due courtesy and in a dignified manner.—APP