F.P. Report
MARDAN: The recently elected Mayor Mardan and President of Local Councils Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Himayatullah Mayar advocate has requested the election commission of Pakistan to make arrangements for taking the delayed oath of office by the returned candidates in 1st phase of local Government elections in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it has been learnt.
He wrote application to the election the election commission of Pakistan dated February 28 for the above mentioned purpose. A copy of the application was available with The Frontier Post.
The newly elected mayor stated in the application that 1st phase of local government elections in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was held on 19th December 2021. That notification of returned candidates in respect of local government elections in first phase in 17 Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was notified by Election Commission of Pakistan on 9th February 2022.
That in accordance of section 79 (1) the term of office of a local council shall be four years commencing on the date on which it holds its first meeting: Provided that the first meeting shall be held not later than fifteen days from the day on which the names of its members are notified. That rule 78 (1) explains the mode of oath of office by the returned candidates which says that “subject to the provisions of the Act and the directions given by the Commission the District Retuning Office shall notify schedule for administration of oath in the schedule 2 to the Mayor or Chairman and members of the Village Council and Neighbourhood Council and make arrangements in this regard”.
The oath shall be taken in the first meeting which shall be held not later than fifteen days from the day on which the names of returned candidates are notified but neither the Election Commission has issued directions to the District Returning Officers nor the District Retuning has followed the provisions of the Act .
The notification was issued on 9th February 2022, the oath of office must have been taken on or before 24th February 2022 in accordance of the provisions of the Act and Election rules. That the returned candidates are in a fix after their election to the different categories of seats on 19th of December 2021 and non-assumption of offices till date , the people approach them for different services but they are even not in a position to explain their status of responsibility , authority and its assumption.
The Mayor said, hence, it is requested that District Retuning Officers may be directed to administer oath to the returned candidates of the first phase of local government elections in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
