Chief Election Commission Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has said holding free‚ fair and impartial elections was impossible without establishing peace and maintaining law and order.
Chairing an ECP meeting‚ he said free and impartial elections in the country was the responsibility of Election Commission‚ however‚ maintaining law and order was the sole responsibility of the caretaker government.
He said the Supreme Court also stressed on the need for peaceful environment in the country for polls.
The CEC urged the caretaker federal and provincial governments to ensure law and order.
In the meeting, the ECP reviewed the election preparations, including security situation and printing of ballot papers. Three members and the ECP secretary attended the meeting.
Reacting to a news item published in a section of press claiming that the National Crises Management Cell was presently working under the Ministry of Interior and was being put at the disposal of the ECP‚ the commission said it was well-settled that maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of government.
Referring to Supreme Court’s order of April 30‚ it said the order and provision of security during an election was the responsibility of the executive and such responsibility could not be entrusted to the ECP.
The commission also observed that all executive authorities in the federation and provinces were under obligation to provide assistance to the ECP, including provision of adequate security at the polling stations for the peaceful conduct of national elections being held on May 11.
If caretaker govt. cannot provide security, put army, rangers, FIA, police under ECP. Such a shame on every govt. to avoid responsibility of providing law and order to any citizen in Pakistan.
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