UMERKOT: The Election Commission of Pakistan has suspended two officials, one from the education department and the other from the Pakistan Post Office, for violating the election act, after a video went viral on social media showing the officials stamping ballot papers in public.

District election officer Lutaf Ali Mastoi told Dawn that the video showed two officials identified as Imran Ali Arain, postmaster in Kunri, and Akbar Ali Siyal, taluka education officer Kunri taluka, along with others, were seen stamping the ballot papers publicly during the election process.

In exercise of powers conferred under Section 55 of the Elections Act 2017, the authorities had placed them under suspension with immediate effect initially for three months.

They were accused of involvement in the illegal practice regarding the distribution of postal ballots at Government Boys Primary School, Qazi Sultan. The ballots were to be delivered at the respective postal addresses.

He added that the district monitoring officer and the RO concerned had been appointed to probe the matter.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024