HYDERABAD: By-election will be fair and free, says CEC
Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, April 26: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Qazi Mohammad Farooq has assured that he will take every possible measure to conduct free, fair and transparent by-election in NA-219 of Hyderabad.
Presiding over a meeting of the officials concerned at the local circuit house on Wednesday, he said that conducting free and fair elections was not only a constitutional obligation of the Election Commission, but it had become a major international concern.
An official handout issued here on Wednesday said Chief Election Commissioner Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq at a meeting reviewed preparations for holding the by-election.
He assured the officers concerned that the commission would resolve the problems of funding and liaison with the provincial government.
The RPO briefed the chief election commissioner on the situation in the city and the meeting observed that a peaceful atmosphere prevailed in the city.
However, participants feared that some elements might attempt to disrupt process of free and fair elections. The meeting was told that to maintain peace, a special force will be deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
Of the 230 polling stations, 29 were declared sensitive and 201 normal. Two officers and 20 constables each will be posted at sensitive sites and two officers and 15 constables each in normal areas.
Mobile patrolling had also been planned, the RPO reported.
The home secretary said the Rangers would be deployed on the request of the RPO to assist police on the day of election.
The chief election commissioner expressed satisfaction over the steps planned for the elections.
However, he asked the officers to be vigilant and active in carrying out their duties. Every effort should be made to improve the efficiency of the staff, he said and added that the by-election was the first step to win the confidence of the public and the world for the forthcoming national elections.
The by-pools would be conducted with efficiency and the public as well as the opposition would not find any point to object to the fairness of the election process in the country, he said.
PAF: The Pakistan Air Force Information and Selection Centre, Hyderabad, has announced the result of the test conducted for selection in 98 non-GD course. Successful candidates have been advised to report at the selection centre on May 3, for medical examination and interview.
Print media barred: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (rtd) Mohammad Farooq Qazi avoided a meeting with print media journalists during his first visit to Hyderabad in connection with May 2 by-elections on NA-219.
Assistant Election Commissioner (AEC) Riaz Memon had informed journalists on phone about Wednesday’s press briefing at the circuit house. Mr Memon said he would send a written invitation to put on the notice board of the press club for information of newsmen and photojournalists.
However, in the evening, an official of the divisional election commission (DEC) informed that “the programme has been changed as press briefing is exclusively for TV channels”. Thus, the press club did not receive an invitation.
When club’s secretary Shahid Sheikh reached the circuit house, he was stopped from entering the room where the CEC was talking to electronic media.
The journalists of Hyderabad have taken an strong exception to the exclusion of print media from the programme of the chief election commissioner on his first visit to the city.
A meeting, presided over by press club president, condemned the move as conspiracy to divide the print and electronic media.
It adopted a resolution urging the ministry of information and broadcasting to issue strict instructions to the PID to avoid any attempt to dividing the print and electronic media.
