ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the Sindh chief secretary and inspector general of police (IGP) on Aug 30 to explain the reasons behind the poor security arrangements for municipal corporation elections in Matli town of Badin district.

According to a revised schedule, polling was to be held on Thursday. However, it could not take place due to the unavailability of security cover. The ECP postponed the polling after it was informed by the provincial election commissioner that the district administration and police had failed to carry out their constitutional obligation and no security was provided to the polling station, returning officer or election staff.

Originally, the polling was fixed for Aug 24 but the returning officer (RO) concerned arbitrarily disqualified four of the contesting candidates along with their proposers. The RO then declared the two remaining candidates elected as the chairman and vice chairman unopposed.

Badin Assistant Commissioner Manzoor Ali Siyal, who was appointed the RO, had reportedly taken the decision on an application filed by the secretary general of a political party.

However, the ECP had declared the RO’s decision void and held that he had no powers to disqualify contesting candidates. The ECP also suspended the RO and the district returning officer, appointed replacements and fixed Aug 25 as the new polling date.

Imran, Hamza issued notices for campaigning ahead of NA-63 by-poll

However, polling could not be held on Thursday either because the law and order situation had spiralled out of control in the absence of any security staff.

The commission, which had directed the Sindh chief secretary and IGP to make foolproof security arrangements for the polling in Matli, has taken a serious view of the district administration’s failure and has also summoned the Badin deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police to appear before it on Aug 30 to explain the reasons for their failure to provide security at the polling station.

Notices to Imran, Hamza

Separately, Jhelum district election commissioner Khurshid Alam, who is also the returning officer for the NA-63 Jhelum by-election scheduled for Aug 31, has issued a contempt of court notice to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for addressing a public rally within the district on Aug 24 in violation of the code of conduct.

Mr Khan has been asked to appear before the RO on Aug 27, either in person or through his counsel, to explain why he should not be proceeded against under Article 204 of the Constitution and the relevant section of the Representation of Peoples’ Act. “In case, you fail ... to appear before the undersigned, the matter will be forwarded to the ECP for further necessary action,” the notice said.

The Jhelum RO has also issued notice to PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, son of Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, for running the campaign of a PML-N candidate from the NA-63 constituency.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016