ECP summons sessions for Punjab, Islamabad LG polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned two separate sessions for finalising the schedule of Punjab and Islamabad Local Government (LG) polls, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) summoned a session for Islamabad LG polls on August 2. A letter was sent to the interior secretary, Inspector General (IG) Islamabad and chief commissioner for attending the session.

Moreover, the commission summoned a session to finalise date and schedule for the Punjab LG polls on August 3. Caretaker Punjab chief minister (CM), chief secretary, IG Punjab and LG secretary were asked to attend the upcoming session.

The ECP spokesperson said that delimitation process has been completed in Islamabad and Punjab.

A few days ago, the federal government rejected the recommendations forwarded by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the disbursement of funds for the general polls.

READ: General elections: ECP’s recommendations for electoral reforms accepted

The federal government finalised the strategy regarding the disbursement of funds to the ECP and rejected the commission’s suggestion to release all funds in the first quarter.

The government decided to disburse funds to the ECP in phases. Sources told ARY News that ECP will be given Rs10 billion funds again which was allocated in the previous fiscal year. It has been decided to disburse a total of Rs42.42 billion to the election commission.

Sources added that the funds will be disbursed in phases on the basis of ECP’s requirements. The ECP will contact the finance ministry for the funds. In the first phase, Rs10 billion will be released out of the Rs42.42 billion allocated for the general elections.

The commission had sought Rs47.42 billion for holding general elections in the previous fiscal year. In the previous fiscal year, the federal government had approved the disbursement of Rs15 billion to the ECP and initially issued Rs5 billion.

Sources told ARY News that Rs4.47 billion out of Rs5 billion funds were used by the ECP and the remaining funds worth Rs530 million were returned to the finance ministry. Later, the ECP had requested the finance ministry to release Rs10.53 billion in the previous FY.