ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce unofficial results of all 859 constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies – to be issued by the returning officers – on February 9.
“The ECP has already completed all the arrangements to conduct free, fair and transparent general elections across the country on February 8,” the ECP spokesman told the official news agency.
He said the ECP has completed the printing of 260 million ballot papers for all constituencies in the country ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The spokesman said the National Assembly ballots are identifiable by green paper, whereas provincial assembly ballots are printed on white paper. Except for some districts, the distribution of printed ballot papers has been finalised across the nation.”
The printing, which commenced on January 14, concluded by February 3. In compliance with the Supreme Court directive, ballot papers for 11 National Assembly and five provincial assembly constituencies underwent reprinting, with the original ones set for destruction as per the court order, he said.
He said that this time, a total of 260 million ballot papers were printed, reflecting a 54.74 percent rise in candidates compared to the 2018 elections. Despite a 195 percent surge in demand for special paper, effective management led to a reduction from 2,400 tonnes to 2,177 tonnes.
The distribution of printed ballot papers comprises 5 percent single-column, 50 percent double-column, 30 percent three-column, 11.15 percent four-column, and 2.4 percent five-column formats, gearing up for the scheduled February 8 polls.
Political parties and independent candidates are actively participating in campaigns, with the election drive slated to conclude on February 6 at midnight.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General (DG) of Election Commission of Pakistan Haroon Shinwari on Tuesday said that the ECP is fully confident and prepared for the peaceful conduct of elections, and safe delivery of polling material where a 24-hour central control room service will address public grievances on priority.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that district-level central control rooms have been set up for strict monitoring of the election process and to redress grievances, adding that these control rooms will continue to function till the results of the elections are declared and the officers in the central control room will monitor the election process along with the monitoring team.
He said that the control room will maintain communication with relevant personnel and stakeholders, including preliminary findings, returning officers and district returning officers.
He said apart from WhatsApp, the complaints can be submitted through email at [email protected], or the dedicated helpline 111-327-000.
The Election Commission has also been issuing warning notices to several candidates for violating the electoral code of conduct, he said, adding that the district monitoring teams appointed by the Election Commission in the provinces and federal capital are also performing duties actively and removing prohibited advertising material and hoardings on daily basis.
Replying to a question, he said that the entire monitoring system set up by the ECP aims to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, adding that the purpose of monitoring is to maintain the atmosphere of peace and order at the polling stations and to make the election fair and transparent.
