The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered Punjab Chief Secretary to suspend Assistant Commissioner, Kasur the Returning Officer of PP-178, Kasur-IV, for attending a political partys election rally.
The ECP spokesperson stated that the commission has instructed Punjab Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of Assistant Commissioner (HR&M), Kasur, and instruct him to report to the Services and General Administration department for violating rules. Abdul Hafeez Baqapuri, District Education Officer (Elementary Education Male) Kasur, has been appointed as the new Returning Officer for PP-178 Kasur IV, replacing the suspended officer.
In a major development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared that the 8300 SMS service will be provided free of charge starting on Monday, January 29. This announcement was made by ECPs Spokesperson, Syed Nadeem Hyder, Additional Director General Nighat Sadique, and the Project Director of the Project Management Unit during their appearance on Radio Pakistan. According to ECP officials, voters can now easily access details about their constituencies and polling stations by simply sending their computerized identity card numbers to 8300. It was reiterated that voters must bring their computerized national identity cards (CNICs) to the polling stations for voting. Notably, even expired CNICs or tokens issued for new CNICs will be deemed valid for casting votes. To ensure the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, ECP has implemented a robust technological mechanism. Additional Director General Nighat Sadique emphasized the presence of a substantial number of international observers who have been invited to monitor the elections, underscoring the commitment to a fair and unbiased electoral process.