Curtailing pre-poll rigging: ECP demands govt explain hiring, fund diversion

Cabinet division secretary, railway secretary and Sindh chief secretary to give written responses.

ISLAMABAD:

The election authorities have asked the government to explain media reports of violations to the ban on recruitment and the diversion of public funds for electioneering.

On January 22, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had completely banned all recruitments to any ministry, division, department or institution under the federal, provincial and local governments. They were only allowed to hire through the federal or provincial public service commissions.

The ECP had also frozen the transfer of all annual development funds for political purposes, calling this tactic “pre-poll rigging”.

In a notification on Wednes­day, the commission directed the cabinet division secretary, railways secretary and the Sindh chief secretary to explain the reports of violations of its directives. They were told to answer in writing within a week.

The Express Tribune has highlighted that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has siphoned off another Rs1.2 billion from flood donations to constituencies of senior members of the ruling Pakistan People Party (PPP).

The ECP also cited news reports that the railway authorities in Peshawar have tested 1,572 candidates for 33 positions of junior assistants.

The government has been contesting the ECP ban, claiming that the election authorities, under the current laws, do not posses these powers before the schedule for the elections is announced. A team of ministers had met the chief election commissioner (CEC) a few days back. However, he had asked the government to write to him instead.

Meanwhile, members of the ECP met Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Asif Yaseen to discuss protection for staff verifying voter lists in Karachi. The commission said he assured a secure environment for the door-to-door exercise. “Both sides agreed to undertake special security measures in potentially troubled areas,” an ECP statement added.

The defence secretary told the ECP that an army assistance cell has been opened in the office of the provincial election commissioner of Sindh to help coordinate between the ECP and military authorities in Karachi. The provincial election commissioner of  Sindh and his staff will coordinate with the military.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.