Free and fair elections responsibility of ECP: CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry has said that holding of general polls in a transparent manner was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The CJP was addressing the district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers of Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas and Thatta districts at District and Sessions Court Hyderabad late on Friday.
He said the people had the right to choose their representatives but during scrutiny it should be ensured that the candidate was a right one as desired by the constitution.
He said that it is obligatory for the ECP under Article 218 of the constitution to organise and conduct the elections and to make such arrangements as were necessary to ensure that elections were conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices were guarded against.
He said that in the recent past many judgments have been delivered by the court in the election matters. “I am sure they will provide you insight to follow and handle the issues being raised from time to time,” he said, adding, “In one of the cases on the importance of free and fair elections we have observed that: there can be no escape from the fact that a free, fair, just and transparent election is the very heart of our democratic system, as envisaged by the constitution.”
Such elections must not only be held in a fair, just and honest manner but also appear to be so in order to inspire the confidence of the electorate.
The CJP recalled the judgement of Anita Turab and said that Supreme Court had provided protection to the civil servants of the country. They were required to perform duties as required by them as civil servants in accordance with law and following the code of conduct, he said.
As judicial officers, they were required to stand as a shield against all unjust or unfair means being employed to get favourable election result, he concluded.