ECP spokesperson de-notified, sent back to information ministry

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has de-notified spokesperson Qurat-ul-Ain and directed her to report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, her parent department.

Qurat-ul-Ain was appointed as the ECP’s spokesperson in December 2022 on a three-year deputation from the information ministry.

She had replaced Haroon Shinwari as the ECP’s spokesperson.

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Shinwari was dismissed from job for issuing a statement without prior approval from the higher authorities about holding elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) dissolved the provincial assemblies.

He had said in his statement that although holding both provincial and national elections in the same year may be difficult, the commission was bound to do so under the law.

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The electoral body disavowed Shinwari’s statement, demanding an explanation from him within 24 hours. The commission also highlighted the importance of following due process before issuing any statement by officials.