PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday started training of returning officers (ROs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of preparations for the next general elections.

According to a statement, the three-day training was initially started in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Swat.

Addressing the inaugural session in Peshawar, provincial election commissioner Pir Maqbool Ahmed said that selection of judicial officers as returning officers was a proof that the ECP and nation trust them. He hoped that the officers would ensure holding of the elections in free, fair and impartial manner.

It was stated that judicial officers from KP and administrative officers from Fata have been appointed as returning officers.

In Peshawar, the training session was arranged at a local hotel wherein 19 officers from Peshawar and seven from Charsadda district participated. In Swat, 21 officers are taking part in the training from Buner, Upper Dir, Chitral and Swat districts.

For the southern districts, 20 officers belonging to Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Frontier Regions, North Waziristan Agency, DI Khan and Tank are taking part in the training, which was being held in DI Khan.

The second phase of training would be held in Swat from May 21 to 23 wherein 24 officers from areas of Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan and 16 officers belonging to Shangla, Lower Dir, Malakand Agency and Bajaur Agency will participate.

In the third phase from May 24 to 26 as many as 14 officers from Karak, Hangu, Kohat and Khyber, Orakzai, Mohmand and Kurram agencies will be trained for elections. Similarly, 25 officers from Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Torghar, Batgram and Kohistan districts will participate in the training to be held in Abbottabad.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2018