ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Only teachers will be appointed as presiding officers during the October general elections in the capital, the secretary of Election Cell Islamabad Chaudhry Asghar told Dawn on Saturday.

Mr Asghar said officials of various government departments were appointed as presiding officers in the recently-held presidential referendum. However, this time only teachers from schools and colleges will be appointed as presiding officers.

Responding to a question about the total number of polling staff to be appointed from various educational institutions, he said some 2,100 teachers would be entrusted with the task. Some 400 polling staff would remain on stand-by to replace others in case of any emergency.

He said 1,000 teachers would perform their duties in all 185 polling stations to be set up in NA-48 constituency and 1,060 in 195 polling stations to be established in NA-49 constituency.

The official said the plan of holding elections in Islamabad was completely different from that devised for the presidential referendum.

He said a total of 380 polling stations would be set up in the capital, of which 185 would be in NA-48 and 195 in NA-49. The number of polling booths would be 796, 389 in NA-48 and 407 in NA-49.

The official said the polling agents to be nominated by the candidates would have to get the approval of the relevant returning officers to sit in the polling stations.

“Special cards would be issued to the agents so that they can have access to the polling stations,” he added.

Talking about setting up of polling stations and booths in Islamabad, the secretary, Election Cell said each polling station would cover 1,000 voters.

“We have received strict instructions from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to establish polling stations and booths in government buildings,” he added.

Mr Asghar said it was quite difficult to get a suitable government building to conduct polling in the remote areas of the capital. However, there was no such problem in the urban area.

Talking about the ‘code of conduct’ formulated by the ECP for the candidates, he said the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration had adopted a soft policy for the candidates and thus minor violations were being ignored.

He said there would be no restrictions on holding peaceful public meeting after September 1. However, candidates would not be allowed to stage processions.

“If there is any disturbance or if law and order situation is created during the public meeting, the relevant candidate will be held responsible for this and action will be taken against him,” the official said.