KARACHI, Dec 31: The provincial election commission feels that if the government could somehow ensure law and order on polling day, elections could be held across Sindh without much difficulty.

Sources in the provincial election commission told Dawn on Monday that while the situation arisen after the tragic death of the PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, has adversely affected polling activities and training of the relevant staff, printing of ballot papers and procurement of other election material on time was not an uphill task if adequate security measures were taken by the provincial government.

They said that keeping in view the current law and order situation the election staff fearing for their lives were not turning up to resume their duties as in some of the districts, offices of returning officers, electoral rolls, screens and ballot boxes were completely destroyed by miscreants.

According to sources, if provided with adequate security, the election staff was well in a position to continue with their responsibilities so as to finish the necessary work before Jan 8.

However, there are chances that if the government fails to restore normality, the general election will be put off for three months. The Pakistan Election Commission, which met at Islamabad on Monday after taking stock of the law and order situation in the country, with particular reference to Sindh, has deferred its decision till Tuesday when the EC will meet again and take a decision in the light of the reports sought from the provincial election commission and the Sindh government regarding conditions prevailing in nine sensitive districts of the province.

The sensitive areas include Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Badin, Dadu, Qambar Shahdadkot, Naushehroferoze, Nawabshah and Larkana districts.

Even if the elections are postponed as expected due to the prevailing law and order situation, only the polling day schedule will be put off as the entire polling process from nominations to the issuance of the final list of candidates had already been completed.

Besides, no fresh nomination papers can be invited at this stage for the constituency NA-207 from where Ms Bhutto was contesting the election. In the wake of her death election on NA-207 could not be held as per schedule. It would be only after the general elections that by-election process would be initiated, the sources said.

According to clause 11-A of the Representation of the People Act , “the commission may at any time after the issue of a notification under sub-section (1) of that section, make such alterations in the programme announced in that notification for the different stages of the election as may, in its opinion, be necessary”.