Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan has started training again in the context of general elections. According to the commission’s spokesperson, the training of district returning officers and returning officers has been re-started across the country, which will be completed by December 19, 2023.
In total, 859 returning officers and 144 district returning officers are being trained, with senior officers of the Election Commission conducting the training. On the other hand, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad has initiated measures as a district returning officer. A letter has been issued to the Federal Directorate of Education by District Returning Officer Irfan Memon.
Restrictions have been imposed on the leave of staff in educational institutions, and no government employee will be granted leave until the general elections, except for maternity and medical leave. Officers and employees of the Federal Directorate and its subordinate institutions will remain in their designated positions during the winter holidays. It is clear that the Lahore High Court had declared the Election Commission’s notification for obtaining the services of ROs and AROs in the elections null and void at the request of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which had halted the training of election officials across the country.
The Supreme Court had ordered the Election Commission to issue the election schedule, while halting the implementation of the Lahore High Court’s decision to suspend the Election Commission’s notification of the appointments of district returning officers, returning officers, and assistant returning officers.