Sardar Raza calls for further empowering ECP

CEC launches commission’s strategic plan 2019-2023

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza on Wednesday called for amending law to further empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“The previous parliament promulgated laws to give the ECP financial and administrative autonomy, but the commission needs more cooperation to actually exercise these powers,” the CEC said at the launch of the ECP strategic plan 2019-2023.

Speaking about the plan, the election commissioner said it included a monitoring system devised to ensure its implementation. “This makes this plan different than the ones in the past,” he added.

“However, there are some challenges and concerns related to this project that involves external stakeholders in its implementation.”

The CEC appealed to parliament and other institutions of the state to cooperate with the commission where needed.

“Parliament should make the necessary changes to law.”

The election commissioner said the ECP had achieved some landmark targets in the last five years.

“The commission has fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities for the democratic process. There are hardly a few institutions in Pakistan which prepare their strategic plans and follow them,” he maintained.

“Targets have been set under this plan which will cause department’s progress as well as bring the commission in a better position to fulfill its basic constitutional responsibility of organising independent, fair and impartial elections.”

The CEC said the election commission was committed to integrating the weak classes of the society in the electoral process. Other actions that are part of the plan include quick handling of electoral petitions and complaints, assisting the parliament for further improvement in the election laws, coordinating with the relevant governments for the provision of better facilities in the polling stations, further improvement in the training of the election staff and making the internal system of the election commission more effective.

When asked if he would decide the PTI foreign funding allegation before his retirement, the CEC refused to comment saying that the matter was being heard by the commission.

He also did not respond to a query about the extension in the tenure of the election commission secretary.