ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Friday authorized senior election officers to exercise powers of a magistrate during the local government elections 2005.

According to a notification, all district returning officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers and presiding officers appointed for the conduct of the first and second phase of the local government elections 2005 in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP will exercise the powers of a first class magistrate on the polling days.

These officers could punish any one for violating sections 169, 170, 171, 172, 173 and 174 of the Local Government Ordinances 2001 of the four provinces and Section 190 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.