ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is in the process of preparing for the upcoming general elections in the country and has compiled lists of election officers and staff who will be responsible for various duties during the election, including presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling staff.
According to the lists provided by the ECP, a total of 1,007,361 staff members will be appointed to perform their duties during the general elections across the country.
In the province of Punjab, a total of 526,123 officers and staff will be deployed. This includes 310,968 assistant presiding officers, 54,706 presiding officers, and 160,445 polling staff.
In the province of Sindh, there will be a total of 264,100 officers and staff. This includes 20,315 presiding officers, 81,262 polling staff, and 162,523 assistant presiding officers.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a total of 166,655 officers and staff will be deployed. This includes 16,525 presiding officers, 185,000 assistant presiding officers, and 50,045 polling staff.
In the province of Balochistan, there will be a total of 50,491 officers and staff, which includes 5,266 presiding officers, 30,150 assistant presiding officers, and 15,075 polling staff.
Tensions Rise As Pakistan Peoples Party Accuses PML-N Of Secret Alliance With Caretaker Government
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating between two major allies from the previous government in Pakistan, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), ahead of the upcoming general elections. The PPP has accused the PML-N of having a hidden alliance with the current caretaker government.
In a statement, PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari raised concerns about PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar holding the position of Leader of the House in the Senate. He alleged, “An alliance between the PML-N and the caretaker government is obvious.”
Bukhari questioned the status of Ishaq Dar, as in the Senate, the Leader of the House represents the prime minister. He also wondered why the caretaker government has not appointed an independent member of the Senate as the Leader of the House, a position that comes with privileges like having a national flag on the residence and car.
Both the PPP and the PML-N were key allies in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) regime, which governed the country for 16 months following the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Bukhari noted that interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s associates, Ahad Cheema and Fawad Hassan Fawad, have close ties to PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. He also mentioned that the Governor of Punjab, Baleeghur Rehman, is from the PML-N.
