Conduct of polls: No demand for more powers made: CEC

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (ECE) of Pakistan Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said there will be free and fair general elections in the country. Talking to VOA, he said that the institutions have constitutional powers, and they do not need the powers like that in India. He said that their institution is authoritative and independent. He commented that no demand has been made for extra powers to the Election Commission for transparency in the general elections.  Regarding the ban on recruitment in government departments and freeze on development funds, the CEC said that a stop will be put to pre-poll rigging. He observed that the Election Commission along with caretaker prime minister will take concrete steps to ensure that the government machinery is not used by any political party in the general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2013.