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ACT V OF 2010 ACT V OF 2010 BALOCHISTAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 2010 An Act to provide for the constitution and continuance of Local Government Institutions in Balochistan, and to consolidate law relating to the Local Government and to provide for the matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto. [Gazette of Balochistan, Extraordinary, 13th May, 2010] No. PAB/Legis: V(8)/2010, dated 13-5-2010.---The Balochistan Local Government Bill, 2010 having been passed by the Provincial. Assembly of Balochistan on 10th May, 2010 and assented to by the Governor, Balochistan on 11th May, 2010 is hereby published as an Act of the Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---Whereas the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan under Article 32 requires the State to encourage Local Government Institutions composed of elected representatives of the areas concerned and having special representation of peasants workers and women: Whereas the Constitution requires the provincial, government to decentralize the government administration under Article 140-A so as to facilitate expeditious disposal of its business to meet the convenience and requirements of the public: And Whereas it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to Local Government Institutions so as to the obligation in line with the requirements of the Constitution: Now therefore, it is enacted as under: CHAPTER- IV LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS 21. Presiding Officer and Polling Officer.---(1) A Returning Officer shall appoint for each polling station a Presiding Officer and such number of Assistant Presiding Officers and Polling Officers to assist the Presiding Officer as the Returning Officer may consider necessary: Provided that a person who is, or has at any time been, in the employment of any candidate shall not be appointed as a Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer. (2) A list of such Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and Polling Officers shall be submitted to the Election Commission at least fifteen days before the polling day for its approval and no change in the personnel shall be made except with the approval of the Election Commission. (3) A Presiding Officer shall conduct the poll in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules, and shall be responsible for maintaining order at the polling station and shall report to the Returning Officer any fact or incident which may, in his opinion, affect the fairness of the poll: Provided that, during the course of the poll, the Presiding Officer may entrust such of his functions as may be specified by him to any Assistant Presiding Officer and it shall be the duty of such Assistant Presiding Officer to perform the functions so entrusted. (4) The Returning Officer shall authorize one of the Assistant Presiding Officers to act in place of the Presiding Officer if the Presiding Officer is at any time during the poll, by reason of illness or other cause, not present at the polling station, or is unable to perform his functions; and any absence of the Presiding Officer, and reason there for, shall, as soon as possible after the close of the poll, be reported to the Election Commission. (5) The Returning Officer may, at any time during the poll, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suspend any Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer and make such arrangements as he may consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the Officer so suspended.