GUJRAT: The Punjab government has asked the commissioners and deputy commissioners to provide it data of officials to be appointed as returning officers (ROs) and other polling staff for the 2018 general election following a direction from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its provincial chapter to this effect.

Official sources say though it is yet to be decided that whether the officers of district administrations, ECP or the judiciary would act as district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) or assistant returning officers (AROs) in the next election, initially senior officers in the district administration might be enlisted in the database being prepared with regard to these slots.

The provincial Election Commissioner Mr Sharifullah, in his letter to the Punjab chief secretary dated April 19, had said the district election commissioners had already sought the requisite information from the provincial and federal departments and letters had also been written to the concerned departments in this regard. However, the departments have yet to respond in accordance with the proforma provided by the ECP.

The services and general administration department (S&GAD) had also issued a direction on behalf of the Punjab chief secretary (dated May 15) to all the commissioners and DCs, seeking the information “within shortest possible time” by returning the ECP proforma.

The DCs have summoned the meeting of the relevant departments, particularly the district heads of the election commission, and officials of education, health and revenue departments to chalk out a plan in this regard.

The last general election of 2013 was conducted by the judicial officer – district and sessions judges, additional district and session judges – who had acted as DROs and ROs, respectively.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2017