ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a 12-point guideline for the caretaker administrations at the federal and provincial levels on Tuesday, asking them not to take any steps that might affect the outcome of the upcoming general elections in the country.
The development comes days after the end of former premier Shehbaz Sharif’s administration ahead of the national polls. President Arif Alvi has already appointed Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister of the country who is currently in the process of selecting his interim cabinet.
Pakistan is also expected to have caretaker setups in all its provinces to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the coming months.
“The Caretaker Governments shall perform their functions and attend day-to-day matters which are necessary to run the affairs of the Federation and Provinces in accordance with law,” the ECP said in its notification.
“The Caretaker Governments shall not attempt to influence the elections or do or cause to be done anything which may, in any manner, influence or adversely affect the free and fair elections,” it added.
The ECP asked the interim setups not to announce or execute any development schemes on federal or provincial levels while announcing that all development funds “shall stand frozen” until the announcement of results of general elections.
Additionally, the caretaker administrations would not be able to transfer public officials without seeking prior approval from the election body.
The ECP also instructed the interim prime minister and chief ministers, along with their cabinet members, to submit a statement of assets and liabilities within three days after joining the office.
The caretaker setups are constitutionally mandated to supervise free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan within a stipulated period.
The country should hold the next elections in November as per the constitution, though it is widely believed the national polls could get delayed by a few months and could be held in February.
