October 7, 2002	Monday	Rajab 29, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Chief Election Commissioner, Irshad Hasan Khan, on Sunday assured a 39-member Asian Observers group that the EC was committed to acting with neutrality, objectivity, impartiality and independence at every stage of the electoral process for Oct 10 polls.

The CEC said the delimitation work was finalized by disposing of the representations filed by the political parties and persons intending to contest the elections.

He said the fairness of the process can very well be judged by the fact that only 950 representations were filed for 849 general seats.

The CEC said that a code of conduct for electronic media was prescribed to ensure that the election coverage must not be biased in favour of any particular political party, candidate or a leader.

He said a suo motu action was taken by the CEC against the PTV on a complaint of PPP concerning the alleged “unbalanced coverage”.

The CEC told the delegation that a report was called for from the PTV Managing Director, who submitted an exhaustive report and the EC termed his explanation satisfactory.

He said the EC restrained the incumbent ministers and governors from contesting elections while in office. They had been asked to resign before filing their nomination papers.

All the executive authorities had been directed not to use the state resources anywhere in Pakistan for unfair advantage nor to exercise undue influence affecting the interest of any candidate or a political party.

He said the EC also directed the district Nazimeens, Naib Nazimeens, not to interfere in the election process in any manner. The CEC also explained detailed procedure of voting, counting and preparing of results.

He informed the members of the delegation that 7,180 candidates were contesting elections for the national and provincial assemblies’ seats.—APP