Transfer or leave of officials with election duties would require EC approval
The 13th National Election and the July Charter referendum will be held on the same day, and the Election Commission (EC) has made it clear that no government official involved in the election process may be transferred or granted leave without prior approval from the Commission.
The directive was outlined in a recent letter sent by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, which has already been forwarded to the Cabinet Division secretary.
The letter states that, as the upcoming national election and referendum are scheduled for the same day, returning officers and assistant returning officers must be appointed. For this purpose, polling officials will be recruited from ministries, government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, as well as from private offices and educational institutions where necessary. Adequate magistrates and law enforcement personnel will also be deployed to maintain order.
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The letter also highlights constitutional and legal obligations:
- Under Article 126 of the Constitution and Article 5 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (RPO), all executive authorities are required to assist the EC in conducting elections.
- As per the Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, once appointed, election officials serve under the Commission until relieved of their election duties.
- In accordance with Article 446 of the RPO, no officer or employee may be transferred without the EC's prior consultation from the moment the election schedule is announced until 15 days after the results are declared.
The EC further instructed that all personnel assigned to election duties must perform their roles impartially, following relevant laws and regulations. Ministries, departments, and all government, semi-government, autonomous and private institutions have been requested to ensure that no officer is transferred, granted leave, or assigned to any task that may disrupt election duties without prior discussion with the Election Commission.
