Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has expressed satisfaction over the Election Commission of Pakistan’s completion of arrangements for holding general elections.
Ashraf made these remarks while talking to Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.
The secretary informed the Prime Minister that a code of conduct has also been prepared by the ECP which prohibits display of weapons during election campaign.
The prime minister appreciated the decision of the ECP to ban display of weapons during elections.
The Secretary Election Commission also briefed the Prime Minister that candidates will have to specify the venues of their public meetings and the Election Commission will permit them to hold meetings in consultation with the local administration. Similarly, rallies and processions brought out by candidates will have to follow specified routes approved by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Khan also informed the PM that the ECP will soon hold meetings with the Federal and provincial governments to ensure that the law & order is maintained during polling.
Ashraf assured the Khan that the government will extend all administrative and logistical support to ECP in order to ensure maximum participation and voter turnout.
The prime minister reiterated government’s resolve for holding a free, fair and impartial election in the country on time and expressed the confidence that the upcoming elections will further strengthen the democratic process by streamlining the role of state institutions in the polity.
