Elections: Efficient system for disposing of complaints stressed

Some election issues still need more attention.

ISLAMABAD:

A clear and efficient system for entertaining election complaints and appeals was a prerequisite to ensure free and fair elections.

Lars-Gunnar Wegemar, European Union Ambassador and head of the election observer mission, said this while speaking at a seminar on “Role of free and fair elections in promoting democracy,” organized by the Society for Enforcement of Rule of Law here on Thursday.

“There are certain electoral issues that still need sustained attention,” he said.

He said that there seems a lack of coherence between election commission, parliament and constitution to dispose of election related petitions on time, as in 2008, out of 265 election petitions, only 12 were disposed of by tribunal six months after the elections.

He said that under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, all parties were required to take appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2013.