A new project of UNDP will soon be launched with the main objective of taking steps for capacity building of officers and staff of Election Commission, voter's education, co-ordination with NGOs, training of polling personnel etc by holding workshops and seminars.
The salient features of the project were highlighted at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Acting Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan here on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Justice Nasim Sikandar, Judge of Lahore High Court, Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari, Judge of Balochistan High Court and Justice Qazi Ehsanullah Qureshi, Judge of Peshawar High Court.
The meeting was also attended by Hasan Muhammad, Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, K. M. Dilshad, Joint Secretary (Admn)/Electoral Reforms and National Project Director, UNDP, Ahmed Ali Halepota, Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh and other senior officers of election commission.
Dilshad, National Project Director, UNDP, dilated upon the salient features of the project.
On the occasion chief election commissioner particularly emphasised that such workshops should not only be held in big cities but also at smaller places, so that project objective is fully attained.
Ahmed Ali Halepota, Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh briefed the chairman and members about arrangements been made for bye-election in NA-229 Tharparkar-I.
Hasan Muhammad Secretary, Election Commission gave a detailed briefing about the ongoing activities of the election commission particularly the steps taken during the last one month with regard to holding of bye-elections in NA-229 Tharparkar-I and NA-59 Attock-III, and also bye-elections to the Local Government institutions.
The members of the commission gave some valuable suggestions about overall arrangements to be made for the bye-election in NA-229 Tharparkar-I.
Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, asked the provincial election commission and also all officers of the election commission to spare no efforts for free, fair and transparent elections.
He particularly called for ensuring that counting of votes start at polling stations immediately after the poll in the presence of polling agents and that copies of statement of count are provided by presiding officers to the agents of candidates. Besides, a copy of the statement of count was also displayed at a conspicuous place outside the polling station.