Writes letters to leaders of ANP, MQM and PML-N.
Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has offered condolences over the deaths of political workers in the recent terrorist attacks.
In separate letters to ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, MQM Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Ebrahim endorsed the demand of fool-proof security for all political candidates.
“I may take this opportunity to reiterate that the ECP has not issued any direction to withdraw security from the ANP leadership. This has also been clarified publicly earlier,” he said in the letter to Asfandyar.
Addressing Dr Sattar over the recent killing of a MQM candidate in Hyderabad, Ebrahim said: “I salute all candidates and their workers who continue to stand steadfast against such attacks on Pakistan’s nascent democracy.”
The CEC categorically denied news reports that the ECP had ordered withdrawal of candidates’ security cover.
Meanwhile, Ebrahim also convened a meeting of the ECP on Thursday (today) to discuss law and order and other matters related to the May 11 general elections. “The meeting is subject to the arrival of CEC [Ebrahim] from Karachi. There are many items on the agenda … law and order and issue of right of voting to overseas Pakistanis is on top of the agenda,” an ECP official told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.
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