ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will begin accepting nomination papers from potential candidates tomorrow (December 20), as Pakistan prepares for a key general election on February 8, 2024, according to The News.
The process is set to begin today, following the oathtaking of district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) by the electoral authority in accordance with the Elections Act 2017.
At least 859 returning ROs finished their three-day training the day before, and 144 DROs will be trained today. The ROs had already attended a one-day training before a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) office-bearer and lawyer filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, resulting in the suspension of their appointment notification. As a result, their training was halted on December 14.
But the Supreme Court overturned the LHC ruling and ordered the ECP to release the election timetable, which caused the notification of DROs and ROs to be restored.
A senior ECP official clarified that the oaths will be given by the provincial election commissioners (PECs) to the district resolution officers (DROs) in their respective provinces, and the DROs to each RO and assistant RO in the district.
Likewise, before to the poll’s start the following year, the RO will administer the oath to each presiding officer under his authority, and the presiding officer will deliver it to each member of the polling crew under his jurisdiction.
