MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 15 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chief Election Commissioner (AJK-CEC) Justice retired Abdul Rasheed Sulehria on Tuesday, while brushing aside rumours about the postponement of local government elections, assured that polls would be held on November 27 as per the previously announced schedule and all arrangements for in that regard had been made.
Leading a presser here accompanied by a senior member of the commission, Raja Farooq Niaz, he said the required funds had been provided by the government and federal interior minister had assured him to provide 17,000 security personnel to maintain law and order during the polling.
Rumors were spreading all over AJK that the commission was going to approach Supreme Court to get its order for the conduction of LG polls before November 30 amended on the grounds that the federal government had expressed inability to provide security personnel due to reasons.
“Government has provided us hundred percent required funds of which 280 million rupees have been spent so far and I, personally, talked to interior minister Rana Sanaullah, who assured me to provide security personnel to maintain law and order during the polling,” Sulehria maintained.
He advised political leaders to avoid spreading rumors and creating uncertainty about the elections going to be held after 30 years, and said firmly that the commission was committed to conducting the polling on time on a single day.
However, he said, the decision about conducting polling in the areas covered with snow would be taken near the polling date, and polling in such areas might be postponed depending on the weather conditions.
Senior member commission Raja Farooq Niaz said the polling scheme and printing of ballot papers had been completed and polling material was distributed which showed the commitment of the commission to conduct the polling on time.
He said a total of 2.95 million voters would cast their vote in the LG elections to elect their representatives in 10 district councils, five municipal corporations, 14 municipal committees, 12 town committees, and 272 union councils.
