The civil society on Friday called upon state authorities and political parties to halt harassment, intimidation, persecution, and prosecution of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and its officials for making significant contributions to the transparency of the 2013 general elections.
Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, a FAFEN official, Malik Sarwar Bari, flanked by civil society activist Marvi Sarmad, informed reporters that the network had not filed any written apology to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and urged the ECP verify the votes cast through thumb impressions, as well as demanded it upload forms 14, 15 and 16 on the its website to maintain its creditability.
To a question, Bari said the ECP had not directly threatened FAFEN, adding that it only rejected FAFEN’s report not its demands.
The FAFEN official demanded a forensic investigation of the rigging and asked that votes cast in controversial constituencies be verified though the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) by seeking counter files.
“Not only FAFEN, but all major political parties have expressed their concerns on the recent polls,” Bari said.
Quoting a few examples, the FAFEN official said PML-N’s Nisar Ali Khan lost a seat after recount, “so what does it mean?… either the first counting was correct or the second one? And what was punishment for the person responsible for the wrong facts?”
With regards to Ishaq Khakwani’s application for recounting, he said the returning officer was not permitting it.
Bari also said the FAFEN head, Mudasir Rizvi, was directly threatened by PML-N MNA Ayaz Sadiq, because Rizvi had demanded the Cyber Crimes Department probe the case and bring those responsible to the court.
He said Rizvi had been reportedly implicated in 16 cases under Section 505 (b) of the PPC with as many FIRs registered against him. He said Rizvi was also being threatened by some MNAs.
Bari also urged the ECP to release official documents from all 69,801 polling stations and all constituencies’ returning officers nationwide.
Bari also said violating all the rules and the ECP’s code of conduct, a few returning officers as well as presiding officers shifted polling booths and merged some at the eleventh hour.
Marvi Sarmad, a civil society activist, said the civil society had a right to monitor the democratic system, adding that “we should understand what caused a number of mistakes in connection with the elections”.