PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday took notice of release of uplift funds and announcement of development schemes in DI Khan where LG election is scheduled on February 13.
The regional election commissioner Dera Ismail Khan wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, saying that it was reported that the provincial government has announced development schemes and released funds of Rs1.88 billion. The commissioner said that it would benefit the ruling party in the election, thus, such practices should be stopped immediately.
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The letter said that the election schedule has been issued in constituencies where candidates had died. The Deputy Commissioner of the DI Khan was asked to provide further details in writing and stop uplift work in constituencies were election is scheduled. The ECP had postponed Local government polls on Dera Ismail Khan’s city mayor seat after the murder Awami National party candidate, Umar Khitab Sherani, by unknown assailants, a day before polls on 17 December last year.
Yesterday, KP government released over Rs1bn to 54 Tehsils Municipal Administrations in 14 districts ahead of the LG elections in the remaining districts of the province on 27 March.
The election in 17 districts of the province were held on 19 December, last, which were marred by violence.The ECP has said that the KP police was a “mere spectator” to violence during the elections on 18 December, last year. The ECP has decided to deploy Pakistan army to ensure peaceful polls in the remaining districts on 27 March.