Former provincial chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: FILE
Former provincial chief minister Shahbaz Sharif asked the Election Commission on Thursday to press the government to implement its decision regarding transfers of bureaucrats across the country in order to guarantee free and fair elections.
“Each and every political party should be provided equal ground for impartial and fair elections,” a press statement quoted Shahbaz as saying.
He said that the federal government violated ECP’s order to transfer chief secretary Sindh, as a result of which a Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) appointed chief secretary still holds the office.
Shahbaz pointed out that ECP’s orders to appoint former Punjab chief secretary Nasir Khosa as chief secretary Sindh has also been violated.
The former chief minister said that the officers who are favoured by PPP are appointed to important positions linked with the ECP and could come in the way of free and fair polls. Shahbaz added that PPP also appointed people in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and they have still not been removed.
He said that everyone is well aware of PPP’s criteria for appointments but neither the ECP nor federal government is ready to transfer them from their positions.
Shahbaz said that if the ECP has expressed its displeasure over the caretaker interior minister’s statements in favour of Nawaz Sharif, why did the commission not act upon violations of its orders with regards to transfers and postings.
He urged the CEC to take immediate action and fulfil its responsibilities.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.
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