27 September 2004	Monday	11 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: The CEC has invited Senator Raza Rabbani and Syed Qaim Ali Shah along with a PPP delegation for a meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday at his office.

"The chief election commissioner is always ready to welcome the PPP delegation and the question of refusing to meet PPP provincial chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah or any delegation led by him, does not arise because Mr Shah never sought any meeting with the CEC," said an election commission press release here on Saturday.

It however said that Mr Rabbani had talked to the CEC on telephone on Sept 20 stating that he had some grievances in connection with the change of polling stations in the forthcoming by-election in NA-229 Tharparkar-I and he would like to call on him with a two-member delegation.

The CEC had asked him to send the complaint in writing, specifying therein with particularity, the alleged grievance relating to change of polling stations so that he could call for report from the district returning officer concerned and the provincial election commissioner, Sindh, in order to make the meeting of the proposed delegation meaningful.

Senator Rabbani appreciating the stance of the CEC promised to send the complaint through fax by Sept 21. However, no complaint in writing was sent till Sunday nor any complaint had been received from the candidate of the PPP or his authorized agent, the press release said.

It seemed that the statement appearing in a section of press, that the CEC had declined to meet the PPP delegation, was based on misunderstanding, it said. The election commission could not make any move on vague and general allegations made through press statements. The allegation should be expressed with particularity supported by a prima facie evidence, it said.

The CEC was committed to discharge his constitutional responsibility by organizing, in a fair and transparent manner, the forth coming by-election in NA 229 Tharparkar-1, the release said, adding that the CEC had always acted with neutrality, objectivity, impartiality and independence at every stage of the election process.