ECP lauds role of field officers in conduct of free, fair elections
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad on Wednesday appreciated the role of field officers in conduct of free, fair and impartial elections in the country. He was chairing a meeting in the office of Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab at Lahore.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Election Commissioners and Assistant Election Commissioners and officers of Election Commission Secretariat and Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab.
Kanwar dilshad said that the field officers had made history in the electoral process of the country through their commitment, dedication and hard work.
He disclosed that an effective training plan has been chalked out to equip officers with knowledge and latest information technology techniques to improve the working of the Election Commission. For this purpose, inland and abroad, officers would be trained and all the officers would be equipped with latest IT equipment.
The Secretary said that the ECP was actively considering making Federal Election Academy fully operational and functional for imparting training for the capacity building of the ECP staff.
He emphaized that impartiality and objectivity would make ECP a prestigious institution and establish its credibility in electoral and democratic process.He said that the entire world has appreciated the conduct of General Elections-2008 and termed them free,fair and transparent.
For the first time in the history of the country, the ECP released results on its website on the same day. Besides the results were available on cell phones to the subscribers, Kanwar Dilshad said.
He said that further steps would be considered to improve electoral process on the basis of the feedback given by field officers.
The election petition shall contain a precise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner relies and full particulars of any corrupt or illegal practice or other illegal acts alleged to have been committed along with names of parties alleged to have committed such corrupt or illegal practice and the date and place of the commission of such practice together with relief claimed by the petitioner.
“Every election petition and every schedule or annex to thatpetition is to be signed by the petitioner and verified on oath,” Dilshad said.