The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed priority-based training for election supervisory staff appointed for the smooth conduct of the 2024 general elections. According to the electoral body, the training of 579,191 people has been completed, while the remaining 406,222 people will complete training by February 1. ECP spokesman said on Thursday that the Commission had initiated training for nearly one million election staff during the last week of November, 2023, which would conclude by February 1, 2024. The remaining 406,222 election supervisory staff, including District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, and others would be imparted training before the deadline, he added. Strict disciplinary action was being taken against the staff who remained absent during the training programme, the ECP spokesman said. He said in compliance with the ECP’s special directives, the central control room had been fully operational since December 26, 2023, addressing and resolving complaints promptly.

To date, the central control room had received 45 complaints, all of which had been resolved, he added. The spokesperson said the central complaint cell at the Election Commission Secretariat also handled 165 complaints, promptly processing and issuing necessary instructions to the relevant authorities. All 180 control rooms have also been activated at the provincial, divisional, and district levels, collaborating with the Central Control Room to monitor elections and swiftly address complaints. Monitoring teams deployed nationwide in every district had also been mobilized to actively remove promotional materials daily, addressing violations of the code of conduct by candidates, the spokesperson added. He said the District Monitoring Officers had issued notices for various Code of Conduct violations, and subsequent legal action would be taken following inquiries.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)