ISLAMABAD   -  The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday finalised arrangements for holding by-elections on the vacant National Assembly seat NA-133, Lahore on December 5 in an impartial atmosphere. According to details, a control room has been established in the office of returning officer, which will continue working right from the start of polling process till compilation of results. 

Deputy Commissioner and officers of Police and Rangers will remain present to deal with any untoward incident.   ECP has also established separate control rooms at provincial and central levels to register and resolve complaints. The control room will continue working from 7 am morning till compilation of results on polling day. Provincial control room Lahore has phone numbers 042 99212209; 042 99212620 with Fax: 042 99212209 and Email prcpunjabcontrolroom@gmail.com.

The central control room can be contacted on phone 051-9204402; Fax no 051-9204404 for registering complaints. The complaints can also be registered through Email:- ddmonitoringisb@gmail.com The ECP has established 254 polling stations and assigned security duties to police, Rangers and law enforcement agencies.  ECP has directed presiding officers to keep their location services on, take picture of Form 45 and Whatsapp it to returning officer by taking poling agent on board.

 In case of non-availability of internet, the presiding officer should personally hand over the original Form 45 to returning officer by personally visiting his office.

ECP directed each presiding officer to get snapshots of original Form 45 along with forensic details showing time and location and hand it over to the returning officer. 

Presiding officer was required to save the relevant details in his computer.

Presiding officer will receive polling bags from returning officers in the security of police and Rangers. Each candidate was asked to ensure proper training of their polling agents. Candidates should ensure that no poling agent could leave polling station without receiving From 45. 

Each presiding officer was bound to provide the signed copy of Form 45 to relevant polling agents at the polling station.  

ECP expressed the hope that voters will strictly follow Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs).