SBP’s version: Central bank rebuffs poll observers’ report
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday rejected an election observer report claiming that it failed to provide data to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for scrutinising the credentials of contesting candidates during last year’s polls.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the SBP chief spokesman clarified that the central bank had provided the poll supervisory body with full information without any delay.
“A mutually agreed reporting format mechanism was developed between the SBP and the ECP for scrutinising the nomination papers of contesting candidates for the 2013 election,” the spokesman said. The mechanism, according to him, was finalised at the highest level in meetings with the poll body, which were also attended by the SBP governor.
Returning officers (ROs) were required to upload the particulars of the candidates on the poll body’s web portal for onward submission to the SBP, the spokesman said.
In response, the SBP had to provide the required information about the defaults of contesting candidates within 24 hours. The SBP started receiving requests from the ECP through the online system from March 26, 2013, and completed the process on April 7, 2013. “No instance of any delay was reported whatsoever,” he claimed.
He pointed out that the SBP had made special arrangements whereby officials were deputed exclusively for the purpose and particulars of 24,286 candidates along with their family members were examined using this e-Credit Information Bureau (CIB) database. Subsequently, the responses were uploaded without delay.
Highlighting details, the spokesperson said that the bank had also developed an online information portal for the smooth and efficient verification of data.
He revealed that “a director-level official of the SBP was deputed at the ECP for coordination and resolution of issues arising during the process. Whereas, a senior SBP official well-versed with e-CIB assisted the Lahore High Court in disposal of appeals of the candidates,” he said.
The central bank also facilitated the opening of bank branches on weekly holidays for the settlement of outstanding dues owed by contesting candidates. The statement further said that the central bank’s role was also lauded publicly by the chief election commissioner on several occasions.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2014.
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