CEC defends steps for holding fair polls
Bureau Report

KARACHI—The Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq Friday said the next general elections would be held on time.
Addressing a news conference after the meeting with the provincial heads of Election Commission, he said the measures taken up to ensure the transparency of the elections are of world standards. He said that the ECP is hearing the several complaints filed over electoral process, adding the government will bear down on those found involved in rigging.
‘It is incumbent on the provincial governments to ensure the law and order situation,’ Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq said adding that the provincial governments and the election commission are preparing the lists of the sensitive polling stations. On this occasion, he expressed hope that the situation in Northern areas would soon ameliorate. Chief Election Commissioner, Justice rtd Qazi Mohammed Farooq has said that elections in different troubled areas, where army operations are underway, will be held on February 18 in line with other parts of the country.
Addressing a press conference at the office of Sindh Election Commission after presiding over a meeting of the four provincial election commissioners, and other officials, Mr Farooq said the deployment of army troops at sensitive polling stations on the polling day was still being considered, and that no final decision had so far been taken in this regard.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Dilshad, Sindh Election Commissioner, Chaudry Qamar-uz-Zaman, member election commission Punjab, Justice Naseem Sikandar, Chief Election Commissioner NWFP, Justice Jehanzeb Rahim, and Chief Election Commissioner Balochistan, Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari.
He said the government’s writ had been established in the troubled areas to a large extent, therefore there would no hindrance in holding of elections in a peaceful manner.
“ Every possible measure will be taken to ensure the polls in a peaceful manner in the troubled areas. We are sure that the government’s writ will be fully established in those areas by February 18”, he said. Mr Farooq said that the issue of army’s deployment at sensitive polling stations came under discussion during the meeting, however no definitive decision could be taken on that. The issue will be discussed and decided in the next meeting, he added.
“ This (army’s deployment) is very sensitive issue, that is why we are carefully dealing with that”, he said.
He reiterated that February 18 elections would be free, fair, and transparent, and that nobody should have any reservations about that. “ The election commission will ensure free-fair and transparent elections. No individual or group will be allowed to rig the polls, and whoever is found guilty of rigging, will strictly be taken to task”, he said.