Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has expressed the confidence that the coming local bodies' polls would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner. He was chairing a meeting here on Saturday to review arrangements regarding local government elections 2005.
District and Session judges/DROs and senior officials of the provincial government attended the meeting held at the committee room of Sindh Assembly.
The CEC also hoped that the code of conduct for the local government elections 2005 would be implemented in letter and spirit.
He inquired about the preparedness for these polls as well as training of the polling staff etc.
On the occasion, the DROs apprised the CEC of the problems they were faced with regarding the conduct of the coming local bodies' polls. The CEC assured that these would be looked into and would be resolved.
Justice Dogar urged the DROs to direct Returning Officers to be more vigilant during the entire process and check that the copies of results after counting of votes be given to candidates or their agents so as to minimise the allegations regarding rigging etc.
Later, talking to newsmen the CEC said that the provincial administration informed at the meeting that there were some spots in both the rural and urban areas where the Army troops would patrol.
When his attention was drawn towards complaints pertaining to kidnapping of some of the candidates, Justice Dogar said reports in this respect had been sought from the DROs.
"We are taking cognisance of the newspaper reports also," he said and pointed out that none of the complainants had given anything in writing to the DROs or the Ros, no FIR was lodged either.
"Inspite of this I taken cognisance of this matter and sent copies to the DROs and ROs for comments and the replies of these have come".
To a question, the CEC said no transfer/postings had taken place and if this were done the same would be cancelled.
When pointed out that in Karachi the code of conduct for the local bodies polls was being violated and that the political parties had displayed banners and flags and were holding corner meetings, CEC replied that if such banners and flags were there then these would be removed.
He said in today's meeting it had been made clear that the government of Sindh and other governments would check the situation and if there were any violations then remedial steps would be taken.
Earlier, Home Secretary Sindh told the meeting that some 95,000 personnel of police, Rangers and FC etc would he mobilised in Karachi during the polls. As many as 150 video cameras were being installed on vantage points in the city. Army had been asked to conduct extensive patrolling on the election day, he added.
Inspector General of Police Sindh informed the meeting that it would be ensured that local bodies' polls are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
The Secretary Election Commission told newsmen that the electoral lists were prepared under the Local Government Ordinance 2000 and these lists were used for local government elections of 2001 and the same lists were updated from August 2004 to June 15, 2005.
Secretary Election Commission said that the CEC had repeatedly said that law and order was the responsibility of the provincial government.
The suggestions to be presented by the provincial governments would be taken into consideration by the CEC.
Comments
Comments are closed.