Fair polls: ECP improving its methods, says secretary

Fateh said the commission had received no application for holding by-elections under the Rangers’ supervision


Our Correspondent September 11, 2015
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh. PHOTO: ONLINE

LAHORE:


Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh said on Friday the commission had started working on removing the shortcomings identified by the judicial commission.


He was speaking to the media at the Provincial Election Commission Office about preparations for local government elections and by-elections in the Punjab.

Fateh said the commission had received no application for holding by-elections under the Rangers’ supervision. “The elections will be held impartially. It is important that the code of conduct, issued by the commission, is respected,” he said.

The secretary said returning officers had been ordered to strictly enforce the code of conduct.

He said the commission had decided to ask the Planning and Development Departments in the Punjab and Sindh not to issue funds meant to woo voters.

He said the judicial commission had expressed reservations regarding planning for elections, staff training, coordination and monitoring of the electoral process. He said leaders of all political parties had attended a meeting called by the commission in Islamabad.

They had demanded that the commission hold fair elections, Fateh said.

He said political parties had promised to abide by the code of conduct.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2015.

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