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- January 23, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
ISLAMABAD: All development funding related to local government institutions is to be suspended with “immediate effect” until the results of the elections on February 8 are declared, according to a directive issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday.
The commission published the instructions in a notification, which Dawn.com has a copy of. The electoral watchdog stated in the notification that it was responsible for making sure elections were held “honestly, justly, fairly, and by the law.” It went on to say that the commission had to take all necessary measures to stop cantonment boards and local government entities from acting in a way that might “influence” the poll results.
The electoral watchdog continued by saying that equalizing the playing ground for political parties and contenders was also essential. Because of this, the ECP issued an order directing all local government employees in the provinces, including those working in cantonments, to carry out their responsibilities and take care of the regular cleaning and sanitation needs, “which was necessary to run the affairs of local governments.”
It further mandated that no development plans be disclosed or carried out, except those that were authorized before the December 15 announcement of the election calendar. The ECP directed cantonment boards and local governments to hold off on issuing tenders for these kinds of projects until after the general elections and without first receiving permission from the commission.