Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk on Monday said conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections was the prime responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Chairing a briefing on the arrangements for smooth conduct of general elections 2018 here at the PM’s Office, the prime minister said federal and provincial governments were committed to provide every possible support to the ECP in discharge of its constitutional obligations. He expressed satisfaction over the preparations by the ECP for the upcoming elections.

ECP secretary made a detailed presentation on the arrangements being made for conducting general elections 2018. He also elaborated the details of the code of conduct that has been worked out for the contesting candidates, presiding officers and the polling staff, the law enforcement agencies to be deployed for election duty and media and election observers, both local and foreign, who would be monitoring the elections countrywide.

The briefing was attended by Minister for Interior Azam Khan, Chief Minister Punjab Hasan Askari Rizvi, Chief Minister Sindh Fazal-ur-Rehman, CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (r) Dost Muhammad Khan, Chief Minister Balochistan Alauddin Mari, Secretary to Prime Minister Suhail Aamir, Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, federal secretaries of Finance, Interior and Defence divisions, chief secretaries and inspector generals of the four provinces, ICT administration and other senior government officials.

Ballot papers:

Spokesman of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Altaf Ahmed Khan Monday said that printing and transportation of ballot papers will be done under security by the Pakistan Army personnel.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said that there are three phases involved from printing of ballot papers till their handing over to the returning officers. He said the ECP has directed the provincial election commissioners to share the candidates’ information with the printing organizations and it should be done before 30th of June.

To a question, he said that the unanimously passed elections laws prohibits the ECP to get ballot papers printed from any private printing press. He said the printing of ballot papers will be carried out only by Printing Press of Pakistan, Printing Corporation and Postal Foundation Printing Press. After the printing of ballot papers, the phase of transportation of the papers to the returning officers concerned is also the responsibility of the ECP, he added.

Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Law Affairs Barrister Ali Zafar said has that all-out efforts would be made to conduct free, fair and transparent general election in a peaceful manner in the country.

Talking to a private news channel, he said complaints and suggestions to ensure transparency in holding general elections would be welcomed by the caretaker government. He said if anyone has complaint, he must write to the relevant authorities and it would be addressed with the consultation of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Commenting on role of media, the information minister said it was an important organ of the state and it should keep an eye on every incident within the legal limits. He said that international media would also be invited to witness the general elections in the country and show them how elections were being conducted here. A list of international media was being prepared by the government, he added.

To a question regarding looming water shortage in the country, he said that teams of professionals and experts were being formed to sought a solution to the issue.

Published in Daily Times, June 26^th 2018.