–CEC says all set to hold free, fair polls in autonomous region
GILGIT: The Supreme Appellate Court has suspended the verdict of GB Chief Court which ordered the expulsion of national and provincial lawmakers as well as senators from the region, barring them from taking part in the campaign for November 15 elections.
Earlier on November 7, the chief court directed members of parliament and other public office holders to leave the region within 72 hours for violating the election code of conduct.
The verdict was challenged by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the Supreme Court (SC). A two-member bench heard the case on Monday.
The court suspended the chief court’s verdict till November 12.
The top leadership of all political parties is heading to GB ahead of the elections and is organising large public gatherings.
Moreover, GB Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan has said that all necessary arrangements have been finalised to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the region.
Talking to a state-run radio channel, Khan said that the election commission has dispatched ballot boxes and other relevant material to all districts. He said that training of returning officers and deputy returning officers will be initiated on Wednesday.
The CEC added that out of 1,234 polling stations to be set up, 415 have been declared highly sensitive, 339 are sensitive and 480 are normal. He said that monitoring teams have been constituted for the first time and notices have been issued to different candidates regarding the election code of conduct.
