Manipulating polls: ECP seeks power to take action against officers
Commission wants control over administrative machinery once the schedule for next general elections is announced.
ISLAMABAD:
To make the polls credible, the election authorities have sought absolute control over the entire administrative machinery once the schedule for next general elections is announced.
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan on Thursday told a Senate panel that to make the election fair and free, it is important that the election authorities are given powers to take action against any official found manipulating the process in any manner.
“The Commission should have powers not only to make transfers of high officials like chief secretaries, inspector general police and others but also should be empowered to take direct action against anyone found involved in manipulating the election process”, Khan told Senate’s special committee on election matters.
Citing India as an example, Khan said election authorities there not only enjoy such powers but have been using them to ensure transparency in the election process.
Currently, the ECP can only put a bar on transfers and posting of government officials once the election schedule is announced but the execution of its orders rests with the executive authorities.
To make the polls credible, the election authorities have sought absolute control over the entire administrative machinery once the schedule for next general elections is announced.
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan on Thursday told a Senate panel that to make the election fair and free, it is important that the election authorities are given powers to take action against any official found manipulating the process in any manner.
“The Commission should have powers not only to make transfers of high officials like chief secretaries, inspector general police and others but also should be empowered to take direct action against anyone found involved in manipulating the election process”, Khan told Senate’s special committee on election matters.
Citing India as an example, Khan said election authorities there not only enjoy such powers but have been using them to ensure transparency in the election process.
Currently, the ECP can only put a bar on transfers and posting of government officials once the election schedule is announced but the execution of its orders rests with the executive authorities.