The major political parties on Wednesday stressed the need to make Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) a genuinely independent electoral body through legislation to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country. The ECP held a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on Wednesday on code of conduct for general elections 2018, which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan.
Representatives of Pakistan Muslim League-(PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and other representatives of political parties participated in the consultative meeting. Talking to media after the meeting, Secretary ECP Baber Yaqoob Fateh shared some of the suggestions given by political parties in the consultative meeting. He emphasized that it was imperative for a peaceful, fair and transparent elections that political parties should strictly follow the code of conduct.
He said that political parties gave various suggestions on code of conduct for general elections and they (political parties) also promised to hand over suggestions in written forms. He said political parties suggested that ban on transport facility to voters during elections should be relaxed and permission to limited transport expenditure should be permitted.
Commenting on complete ban on all kind of campaign and canvassing and persuading voters for votes, soliciting of votes, not to vote in the election or canvassing for a particular candidate on the elections' days, the political parties suggested that a big rally in particular constituency should be allowed. The limit for spending on elections is Rs one million for candidates for provincial assembly seats and Rs 1.5 million for candidates for National Assembly seats, the parties suggested that political parties should bear the expense of the election rather contesting candidates.
Representatives of political parties further suggested that ECP in collaboration with PAMRA should formulate a code of conduct for those political parties canvassing election campaign in electronic and print media. They further suggested that equal air time should be allotted to political parties on PTV during general election and it was better that ECP should introduce its own channel six-month before the general elections.
Political Parties also recommended that population census and new delimitation should be held under the supervision of ECP. During elections, CCTV cameras should be installed each polling station so that reliance on private media footage should be reduced. The Secretary said that in one recommendation, training of ECP staff and increasing in polling stations number were emphasized.
Earlier, the CEC said that the main task of the commission was to hold a peaceful, fair and transparent election. Addressing the meeting, CEC said the commission prepared draft Code of Conduct for Elections 2018 following the verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan. The apex court had observed that the contesting candidates in elections used money on their election campaign beyond the limits fixed by ECP and ECP also did not take appropriate steps to prohibit arms during election.
The CEC said there was a recommendation that public gatherings and rallies should be banned during election campaign as people were killed and injured during election campaigns. "ECP is bound to prevent violation of election rules during the campaign and strict action will be taken against candidates who are involved in use of excessive money and use of arms during campaign", he remarked.
About the objectives of consultative meeting, he said that the meeting was called to seek suggestions from political leaders before finalizing code of conduct. "Under the Representation of People Act and the decision of Supreme Court, the commission will ensure peaceful environment for voters to cast their votes", he said. After attending the meeting, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Tariq Fazl Chaudhry told media that all political parties had given their suggestions on the draft code of conduct for the general elections 2018.
He said that the political parties expressed reservations over the proposed ban on election rallies and gatherings on the eve of general elections and further suggested the ECP to increase the limit of election expenditures. The Minister of state said that another consultative meeting will be held with the ECP to give final shape to the code of conduct. Pakistan People's Party Secretary General Sardar Latif Khosa said that appointing returning officers from judiciary was a bad decision, adding the ECP should work more transparently. Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Kamil Ali Agha suggested that ECP should allow at least on big rally during election campaigns.