Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) former justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq has said that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not received any complaints from district returning officers (DROs) against the nazims. He was talking to mediapersons after chairing meeting of ECP held here at provincial headquarters of the commission.
The meeting reviewed the arrangements for holding general elections in the country, which are scheduled for February 18, 2008 and training of election staff. "Election will be held as per schedule and would be free and fair from every aspect and strict actions will be taken against those found guilty of rigging", Qazi Farooq said. He said the meeting had reviewed some petitions regarding symbols and disqualification of some candidates.
"A press release will soon be issued on regarding it," he added. Justice Farooq said no DRO had so far sent any such report against any nazim to ECP for taking action. He said, "DROs are currently busy in recording statements on complaints and we will soon take action against these complaints.
Regarding the procedure to handle the complaints against Nazim, he said if the complaints was against any nazim or refers to violation of code of conduct the district returning officer (DRO) then records the statements and asks the complainant to provide the evidence.
'Then he will sent the report to the ECP for further legal action', he explained. To a query, the election commissioner said the ECP had received some 1400 complaints but actions were taken only on 400 complaints.
He said all measures required to ensure transparency in the polls have been taken. "Computerised electoral roll, transparent ballot boxes, voting screens along with train voters through telecast of documentaries on media would ensure the transparency," he added.
He hoped that the provincial government within next two to three days would finalise the lists on the basis of which the ECP would take decision on deployment of the law enforcers on polling day.
ECP had trained nearly 0.5 million polling staffers and was holding a detailed meeting of DROs on February 2, 2008 to discuss the election arrangements. To a question regarding holding of elections in areas where military operation is underway, the CEC said, "I do not think ECP will face any difficulty in holding polls in such areas except in one or two pockets.
To a query on sensitive polling stations, the CEC held the provincial governments responsible for maintaining the law and order situation. "The provincial governments are preparing list of sensitive polling stations and we are also trying to verify these lists from our own sources," he added.
Regarding transfer of officials Justice Farooq said the complaints were different in nature. ECP, he said, however had already revoked all transfer orders of officials.
Member ECP Punjab, Justice Nasim Sikandar of Lahore High Court, Member ECP Balochistan, Justice Ahmad Khan Leghari of Balochistan High Court, Member ECP Sindh, Justice Ghulam Dastagir Shahani of Sindh High Court and Member ECP NWFP Justice Jehan Zaib Rahim of Peshawar High Court attended the meeting besides senior officials of Election Commission.
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