The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) clarified on Sunday that the electoral body's Secretary Omar Hamid Khan was unwell due to coronavirus and has not resigned from his position.
The ECP spokesperson, referring to Hameed as an "intelligent and hardworking officer, denied reports in local media regarding his resignation and added that "Hameed has been unwell for the past few days and is currently on medical rest".
The statement by the spokesperson added that the secretary will return to his duties once he has recovered.
Read ECP’s polling scheme ready
According to the spokesperson of the electoral body, the election commission is fully functional despite the secretary's absence and there were "no obstacles nor any hindrance in the functioning of the commission".
pic.twitter.com/hVO469Cx87
— Spokesperson ECP (@SpokespersonECP) January 7, 2024
“The election commission’s offices are working even on holidays,” said the statement. The spokesperson added that two special secretaries of the electoral body are performing their duties diligently in the absence of the secretary.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi urged the people not to pay attention to rumours.
افواہوں پر دھیان نہ دیں۔ سکریٹری الیکشن کمیشن واقعی علیل ہیں۔ اللہ سے ان کی مکمل اور جلد صحتیابی کی دعا کرتے ہیں۔
الیکشن کمیشن مکمل طور پر فعال ہے اور کسی قسم کا کوئی بحران نہیں ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/e5OBN0RDUG
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) January 7, 2024
In a post on his social media platform X, the minister while sharing a press release of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), said that the Secretary Election Commission was facing some health issues for some time.
“We pray to Allah for his complete and speedy recovery”, the federal minister said. He also said that ECP was fully functional and there was no crisis of any kind.
Earlier, it was reported by private media channels that Omar had offered his resignation to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.
The news of his resignation had led to uncertainty amidst claims of an unfair level-playing field by different political parties.
Read the full story at the express tribune website.
