ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Election Commission of Pakistan approved the appointment of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers for the forthcoming general elections being held on Oct 10.

A meeting of Election Commission of Pakistan, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner, Chief Justice (retd) Irshad Hassan Khan, approved the appointment of 109 district returning officers, 678 returning officers, and 945 assistant returning officers for national and provincial assemblies’ elections.

The names and jurisdictions of the DROs, ROs, and AROs have been notified in the official Gazette. The DRO will perform his duties and functions under the direct supervision and control of the Election Commission.

They will also liaise with the ROs and the provincial election commissioner, to supervise the ROs in the district, approve the lists of polling stations prepared by the ROs in the district, to approve the appointment of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers proposed by the returning officers in his district.

The DROs will also be responsible for publishing the list of poling stations and arrange training of polling personnel.

The DROs will also ensure prompt dispatch of lists of contesting candidates to the provincial election commission for the printing of ballot papers.

According to the election laws, the ROs will receive nomination papers under Section 11 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, and scrutinize these to decide summarily objections against the nomination of candidates on the appointed date and time. —APP