HYDERABAD: Regional Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan has said that no transfers or postings will be made without approval of the Election Commission of Pakistan and no development project will be announced nor state resourcesusedinfavourofa candidate untilelections are held.

Mr Chohan, who is also district returning officer (DRO) for Hyderabad, said at a meeting held to review arrangements for local government (LG) polls at old district nazim secretariat on Thursday that ECP`s code of conduct would be strictly enforced to ensure free and fair LG election in the division.

He said that if any person in government service misused his official position in any manner to influence election results, he would be dealt with under Section 68 of the Sindh Local Government, Act, 2013.

He said the DROs and ROs in their capacity as first class magistrates would be responsible for implementing the code of conduct with the help of district administration, police and other law enforcement agencies.

Violation by any candidate or political party would be tantamount to malpractice and entail legal action as per law, he warned.

Mr Chohan underlined the need for close coordination between DROs, ROs, AROs and district election commissioners.

DIG Khadim Rind directed SSPs to check criminal record of candidates and report it to DROs or ROs concerned during scrutiny of papers.

Polling stations should be categorised as sensitive and highly sensitive so that a contingency plan could be prepared accordingly, he said.

Hyderabad Divisional Commissioner Syed Asif Haider Ali Shah, deputy commissioners, DROs, ROs, SSPs, district election commissioners and other officers concerned also attended the meeting.