General elections 2024: presiding officers granted magisterial powers

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday granted presiding officers first-class magisterial powers, enabling them to initiate on-spot trials and dispose of the same.

According to a notification issued by the ECP, presiding officers have been give the powers under sections 169, 171, and 174 of the Election Act from February 7 to February 9.

Earlier, the ECP issued a set of rules for the armed forces during the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8.

The election commission released a notice regarding the deployment of the army and civil armed forces in the elections. As per the notice, the armed forces will aid the ECP during the elections under Article 245, while the police will be responsible for security.

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The civil armed forces and the armed forces will manage the secondary and tertiary levels of security. The deployment of the armed forces will only take place outside highly sensitive polling stations.

The notice stated that the civil armed forces will be involved in security during the printing of ballot papers, and the armed forces will be responsible for delivering ballot papers to the offices of the (district returning officers) DROs. After the counting of votes, the armed forces will transport electoral material to the office of the (returning officers) RO, it said.

According to the notice, the armed forces will assist the staff in maintaining a peaceful electoral environment. They will remain impartial, refraining from supporting or opposing any political party.
As per the notice, the armed forces will cooperate with the police officers to identify suspicious individuals according to the code of conduct.

It said that in case of any mismanagement, the armed forces will inform the presiding officer. Authorized commentators and media personnel will be allowed to enter the polling stations.

According to a notification issued by the ECP, presiding officers have been give the empowers under sections 169, 171, and 174 of the Election Act from February 7 to February 9.

Hum News