12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 11: The Pakistan Peoples Party deputy secretary general, Mian Raza Rabbani, has regretted the violations of Political Parties Order 2002.

In a rejoinder sent to acting chief election commissioner, he stated: "It is a matter of deep concern that the acting chief election commissioner has abetted the prime minister and chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh to continue with the violation of Political Parties Order 2002, when he says that they can continue to campaign for Shaukat Aziz as the central president and the provincial presidents of PML-Q respectively while holding their public office".

The attention of acting chief election commissioner was drawn to Section 9 of Political Parties Order 2002, which states that the holder of an elected public office shall not hold a party office and if at the time of his assumption of such office he holds a party office he shall relinquish the party office before entering upon such office. Elected public office in the said section is defined to mean amongst others the prime minister, chief ministers and federal ministers.

Mr Rabbani said that when in violation of the law laid down the acting chief election commissioner has chosen to give his opinion in favour of government there hardly remains any point for the opposition to make a complaint before him.

In terms of Article 217 of the Constitution, the Chief Justice of Pakistan is requested to consider the appointment of another Judge of the Supreme Court to act as the acting chief election commissioner, the statement concluded. -PPI