Rigging allegations: ECP throws ball in parliament's court

ECP aims to use electronic voting machines in the next general elections scheduled to be held in 2018.

ISLAMABAD: Facing criticism from political parties for failure to conduct last year’s general elections transparently, election authorities have thrown the ball in the court of parliament by seeking legislation to empower the election commission so it can take action against those responsible for rigging in the polls.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday acknowledged that there was a need to take action against those presiding and returning officers who are found guilty of misconduct.

However, ECP claimed that under law, it can not taken action on its own against the civil servants and judicial officers who were incharge of election process on ground.

Speaking at a press conference Secretary ECP Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan claimed that ECP can take action against polling staff and returning officers on its own unless the post-election tribunals point out these officials and impeach them in their verdicts.

He said the political parties who alleged that these officials were biased should submit complaints against them to the tribunals.

ECP  is an autonomous body and the law of land binds all the state institutions to help it in conducting free and fair elections.

“We have already requested the parliament to amend the law and empower us take action against any one who violates ECP directives during elections. We are again sending a set of proposed legislations to parliament” Khan said.

Secretary ECP said future of most of the proposed electoral reforms including introduction of electronic voting machines and biometric verification of a voter and many other key reforms will depend on the parliament which would need to bring required amendments in the election laws.

“ECP draws powers from constitution and laws. There is a need to review the existing election laws," he said.

ECP hires services of public servants mainly the school teachers to act as polling staff at the polling stations while it appoints district and session judges as returning officers to supervise the election process.

Almost all the political parties have reservations over results of the May 11, 2013 general elections; while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is already protesting against the alleged rigging. Different reports on polls including ones compiled by election observers and civil society organizations pointed out massive anomalies in the polling process.

Similarly, tribunals appointed by ECP to hear post election complaints annulled the results of some constituencies and ordered re-polling, which led to the disqualification of the winning candidates but no action was taken against the polling staff and the RO’s, who were supposed to ensure the transparency.

ECP unveils second five year plan 2014-18

Secretary ECP also shared with media second five year plan (2014-18). Under this plan, electronic voting machines would be used in the next general elections scheduled to be held in 2018. It will be possible only if the parliament amends the Representation of People Act, 1975. Similarly the ECP has also proposed re-drawing the boundaries of the constituency and introduce GIS.

ECP secretary said new delimitations can be conducted only after the government holds fresh census. Under law country should have population census after every 10 years. No census was held in the country since 1998.

The issue of census is pending with Council of Common Interest-highest forum on matters between federation and provinces. Chaired by Prime Minister, the issue of census is kept on agenda of CCI but is being deferred every time.

According to Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan ECP had sent a proposed legislation package to the last parliament and it would be sending another one now requesting the parliament to appoint to discuss in a parliamentary committee before passing it.

After Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Sindh has also proposed use of biometric machines in LG polls.

ECP secretary told reporters that after K-P, Sindh government has also asked the ECP to use biometric machines for voters’ verification in the local government elections likely to be held later this year.