The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has expressed its resolve to undo the process if it found any sort of pre or post-poll rigging in January 8, elections.
"We are monitoring the electioneering besides motivating and educating voters to take part in the elections in great number", said Hina Maqsood, District Coordinator of the CPDI while briefing the media here on Friday, about the election-monitoring programme of the organisation. She was flanked by other CPDI officials including Adeela Hasnain, Bilal Abbasi and Amar Zafar.
Hina Maqsood told reporters that the CPDI after elections would compile a report. In case of any rigging the CPDI would report it and it would have a big question mark on the elections and may lead to holding of fresh elections, she said.
The CPDI has launched voter education programme in seven National Assembly and 14 Provincial Assembly constituencies of the Rawalpindi district. The organisation has started programme to educate voters with special emphasis on women voters, she said adding that male voters would be educated about importance of voting and to bring their women folk to polling booths.
"We will hold seven candidate forums in all seven constituencies and intend to arrange extensive policy dialogue with the political figures", she said. She said that Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is a joint venture of 30 civil society organisations and CPDI is working in cooperation with FAFEN since January 2007 to hold transparent elections.
The main objective of the media briefing was that it has to play a constructive role as CPDI considers media as a watchdog and a coalition partner in revival of democracy. In absence of an impartial media, general public is unaware of the law being passed in the parliament and what impact does these have on the society and if media personnel close their eyes the government officials will do what they want, she concluded.