ECP says will resume training of ROs from December 19

The training of returning officers (ROs) for the general elections due to be held on February 8, 2024 is underway across the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday. 

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials, the training of staff will conclude day after tomorrow (Tuesday).

On Tuesday, they added, training sessions for district returning officers would be held.

Giving further information, the officials said that 859 returning officers and 144 district returning officers were being imparted training.

On Friday, the Supreme Court (SC) had suspended the Lahore High Court (LHC) order staying the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy.

Taking up the Election Commission of Pakistan’s appeal against the LHC verdict on officers on election duty over the PTI plea, the top court directed the commission to issue the election schedule by ‘tonight’.

A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa, also halted all proceedings on the PTI petition in the high court. Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Sardar Tariq Masood were also part of the bench.

As ECP lawyer Sajeel Swati presented his arguments, the top court called up the PTI plea to determine its maintainability.

Releasing the verdict on the PTI additional secretary general Barrister Umair Khan Niazi’s plea, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of Lahore High Court referred the matter to the chief justice with a request to constitute a larger bench.

The chief justice questioned the ECP lawyer whether a larger LHC bench was constituted to hear the matter to which the ECP counsel responded that one was formed for Monday.

He questioned if elections could be halted across the whole country just based on his ( Barrister Umair’s ) plea.

Asking to read out the apex court’s Nov 3 order which had stressed that elections would take place on Feb 8, the top judge said: “Shall we issue a contempt notice? … Barrister Umair Khan Niazi’s [petition] is a violation of the Supreme Court order.”

Following the Lahore High Court (LHC) orders, the ECP paused a three-day session to train the returning officers. The developments sparked speculations about the delay in the election.

Reporter: Usman Khan