LAHORE, Aug 20: The Lahore High Court Bar Association has asked the government to give administrative and financial autonomy to the election commission to enable it to hold fair elections.

Bar President Chaudhry Muzammal Khan and other office-bearers said in a statement that the government was trying to get the election results of its choice by denying autonomy to the election commission. It was appointing the returning officers recommended by its favourite candidates and was continuing large scale transfers and postings of administrative officers after the announcement of the election schedule in violation of the democratic principles. The election commission could not hold fair and impartial elections under such circumstances.