EC quells EU concerns on fair elections
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—French envoy in Pakistan and chief of EU election observation mission held separate meetings with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq and the latter briefed them about the steps taken so far with reference to general elections. Federal secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad was also present on the occasion.
CEC held out assurances to them that elections would be held in fair and transparent manner and EC would not abdicate its legal and constitutional responsibilities in ensuring fair and free elections. It is prime responsibility of EC to hold transparent elections and this obligation will be discharged at every cost so that no one could point fingers on the results of elections.
The delegation was told that EC had taken several important steps with reference to general elections and computerized voters lists were evolved for the first time, which provided the basis for transparent elections. Electoral staff has been imparted international level training. A special guiding booklet has been compiled for guidance of poling agents and it will definitely leave positive impact on electoral process. He told special campaign was being run on electronic and print media for voters’ education. Besides all necessary information are placed on EC website, he added.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has strongly condemned and dismissed the allegations leveled by PML-N against the caretaker political dispensation Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad has said that Caretaker Government has ensured all possible measures to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
He said that equitable and level-playing opportunities are being made available to all the political parties for their election campaign. He said that government is facilitating the holding of elections that is primary responsibility of the Election Commission, which is an independent institution. Secretary Election Commission said EC has also set up complaints cells in the offices of the all provincial election commissioner including Islamabad in order to dispose off the complaints.