Fair elections only possible if govt office holders shun electioneering: CEC

Party representatives urge ECP to formulate strategy to enable voting for overseas Pakistanis

PESHAWAR: Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan has said free and fair elections are only possible if the prime minister, provincial chief ministers and cabinet members avoid election campaigning.

He was addressing a consultative meeting with political parties on local government by-elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), elections in K-P will be held for 4,449 seats including 3,043 for non-Muslims, 1,121 for women, 17 for youth peasant workers, 237 as general seats.



In total, there 3,119 village and neighbourhood councils on vacant seats in the province, the commission added.

Additional Secretary ECP Fida Muhammad said the use of Android technology in Islamabad to transfer polls results was aimed at preparing for general elections in 2018.

Talking to The Express Tribune, party representatives urged the ECP to formulate a strategy for overseas Pakistanis, enabling them to cast votes from abroad.