ECP sets up complaint centre for NA-168 by-election

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set up an Election Monitoring and Control Centre (EMCC) for the September 27 by-election in Bahawalpur's NA-168 constituency, Punjab, according to a statement from the commission reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

The ECP said the centre will receive complaints from the public and address them promptly. Trained staff have been deployed at the federal, provincial, divisional and district levels to monitor the electoral process and act on complaints, the commission said. These staff will remain in place until results are received.

The commission added that the EMCC is intended to facilitate voters and other participants in the polling process. It did not spell out in the report the centre's operating hours, the number of staff assigned, or the contact channels through which voters may file complaints.

The announcement was made on Friday, one day before the vote. The ECP did not provide in the APP report the number of candidates contesting the seat, the number of registered voters, or the location of polling stations in the NA-168 constituency.

The by-election is being held to fill a National Assembly seat from Bahawalpur district. The ECP is responsible for conducting the vote and compiling the results. Further details about the complaint centre were not immediately available in the report.

The APP report said the trained staff were posted at all four levels so that complaints can be coordinated from the federal capital down to the district. The ECP did not say whether the centre would remain operational after the results are announced or whether similar centres have been opened for other by-elections.

Voters and other stakeholders will be able to use the centre to report problems during polling. The ECP said the monitoring staff would act on complaints until the election results are received. No further operational details were given in the report.