CEC for conducting fair, transparent local government polls

The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CEC) Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar here on Saturday emphasised the need for fairness, transparency and impartiality to the conduct of forthcoming local government elections in the country. He was chairing a meeting of senior officers of Election Commission of Pakistan at the office of Provincial Election Commission to review the arrangements for holding the forthcoming Local Government (LG) Elections-2005.
The CEC directed the officers of Election Commission to ensure that no person should remain unregistered who comes with an application for his registration as an elector.
He added maximum participation of the people in the democratic process was the basis to strengthen democratic institutions. The CECP disclosed that whole world was looking towards the conduct of LG Elections in Pakistan.
He said the LG Elections should be held in two phases and completed by August 2005, a press release of the Election Commission of Pakistan said.
The CECP directed the Provincial Election Commissioner to complete the work of repairing the ballot boxes immediately so that the same could be available on polling day. He also directed that polling scheme might be prepared and emphasis should be on the provision of facility to the electors by establishing polling stations at easy accessible venues.
He also directed that proposals be submitted for eradication or mitigation of the difficulties of polling staff. Logistic arrangements should be reviewed purposefully and allocation of symbols might be made without any error, and for that purpose necessary amendment in the rules should be carried out.
Earlier, Federal Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad apprised there were more than 640,000,00 eligible voters in the country; 350,000 ballot boxes were available with the Election Commission to cater those voters in two phases.
He also told almost 700,000 Polling Personnel were being appointed for the conduct of those elections. The Secretary further said all necessary arrangements for the elections of all three tiers have been completed.