ECP urged to ensure inclusive elections

ISLAMABAD: The Coalition for Elections and Democracy (CED), a group of civil society organisations, working to strengthen democratic and electoral processes in Pakistan has called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take urgent action to ensure inclusive elections.

It has been highlighted that the upcoming 2023 general election and local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and provinces are fully accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities, elderly individuals, and those with health issues. Continue reading →

ECP asked to ensure inclusive elections

Islamabad: The Coalition for Elections and Democracy (CED), a group of civil society organisations working to strengthen democratic and electoral processes in Pakistan, has called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take urgent action to ensure that the upcoming 2023 general elections and local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and provinces are fully accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities, elderly individuals, and those with health issues, says a press release. Continue reading →

LG polls in Karachi may be conducted in two phases: EC official

KARACHI: Due to lack of security personnel, Sindh Local Government (LG) Elections may take place in further two phases, said Ali Asghar Sial, Joint Provincial Election Comm-issioner here on Monday.

He was addressing in a Stakeholders’ dialogue organized by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in collaboration with Freidrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Pakistan (FNF) at a local hotel.

He said a proposal in conducting election in remaining districts of Sindh in two phases is under consideration. Continue reading →

Call for separate chapter in constitution to define local govt structure, powers

Pakistan’s constitution needs a chapter on definitions of the structure, powers, and functions of the local government, just like there is one each for the federal government and the provincial governments.

There was consensus on this at a stakeholders’ dialogue on the Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA) 2013 organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom-Pakistan on Monday. Continue reading →

Proposal to hold Sindh LG polls in two phases under consideration, says ECP official

KARACHI: A proposal on conducting the local government (LG) elections in the remaining districts of Sindh in two phases is under consideration.

This was stated by Joint Provincial Election Commissioner Ali Asghar Sial during a stakeholders’ dialogue organised by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in collaboration with the Freidrich Nauman Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Pakistan, here on Monday. Continue reading →

Away from public gaze

Balochistan replaced its ineffective Balochistan Freedom of Information Act, 2005 with a more promising Balochistan Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2021, in February 2021. There can be no doubt that this was a move in the right direction, aimed at improving service delivery, transparency and accountability in governance. Continue reading →