May 4, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 3: Deputy secretary general of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani on Wednesday said the Election Commission (EC) under its new head had failed the litmus test of holding free and fair elections.

In a statement he said the by-elections in NA-219 Hyderabad has exposed the claims of the EC as it stood as a silent spectator to the use of state apparatus to manipulate the results in favour of the ruling coalition.

Mr Rabbani said the inaction on part of the EC had reaffirmed the opposition’s view that it was not in a position to ensure general elections would be free and fair.

The PPP leader said the inability to respond to the complaints and concerns of the opposition candidate prior to and on the polling day by the Commission had exposed it as a carbon copy of the past commissions which did not enjoy the confidence of the major stakeholders and was viewed as an extension of the government by the people.

“The manner in which this by-election has been held should be an eye opener for all those who are interested in seeing that the coming general elections are free, fair and honest. This is only possible under a neutral caretaker government which is not appointed under the present dispensation,” he added.