ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Chief Election Commissioner Justice Irshad Hasan Khan took a serious notice on Sunday of a complaint from Larkana regarding setting up of polling stations other than previous places and issued directives to set up polling stations in the government-owned buildings such as schools or colleges.

On a complaint filed by the PPP leaders from Larkana about setting up of polling stations, the CEC said he took cognizance of the complaint and called for report from the concerned district returning officer.

The CEC said: “I have gone through the news item published in a newspaper about the change of polling stations in the constituency of Benazir Bhutto, Chairperson Pakistan People’s Party, in district Larkana, and perused the draft list of polling stations received from the election officer, Larkana.”

The CEC said that according to manual of instructions, the list of polling stations is to be prepared by the concerned returning officer after visiting the site and looking to the convenience of the voters of the area.

The chief election commissioner said till today (Sunday) the returning officer concerned had not prepared the final list of polling stations and the same would be prepared by them after proper inspection of the site, and looking to the convenience of the voters of the area.

He said if any candidate or voter had objection to the establishment of the polling stations shown in the proposal provided, he may approach the returning officer concerned or the Election Commission and assured that such grievances would be redressed according to law.

The CEC said that the provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh, has also stated in his report that the proposals for setting up polling stations will be finalized by the respective returning officers after spot and physical verification and will be finally approved by the district returning officer (district and sessions judge) in accordance with the provisions of the law. —APP