ECP resumes training for ROs, DROs following SC’s verdict

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has swiftly resumed the training of Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs) in the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict, solidifying the scheduled conduct of elections on February 8 next year.

With just under two months remaining until the polls, at least 859 ROs and 144 DROs are currently undergoing training led by senior ECP officers, according to a report by The News.

The Supreme Court’s decision, which followed extensive discussions on avoiding delays in the crucial general elections set for February 2024, overturned the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) poll-related order. The apex court’s ruling on Friday evening suspended the LHC’s decision that had halted the training of DROs and ROs, marking a pivotal development in response to the demands of political stakeholders and the ECP.

Election uncertainty: ECP moves Supreme Court against LHC verdict

The three-member bench considered the appeal filed by the electoral watchdog challenging the LHC order that had suspended ECP’s decision to appoint ROs and DROs from the executive branch. The LHC’s decision, based on a plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Umair Niazi, had raised concerns about the potential delay in the election process.

According to the ECP, training sessions have commenced nationwide and are expected to conclude on December 19. At present, 859 ROs and 144 DROs are actively participating in the training sessions conducted by seasoned ECP officers, ensuring that they are well-equipped for their roles in the upcoming elections.

In alignment with the ECP’s instructions, the DRO Islamabad has also barred officers and officials of government institutions in Islamabad to leave the city. “Education department officers and employees will not leave Islamabad,” stated the DRO Islamabad, who has also urged Federal Directorate of Education officials to remain in the capital following the directives from the electoral authority.

Earlier in the process, the ECP had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the LHC’s verdict, which had rejected a notification issued by the poll body to enlist the services of bureaucrats as ROs and DROs for the execution of the general elections.