December 02, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 21, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The Election Commission has ruled out reversal of transfer and posting of judges made after the announcement of the election schedule, saying it will affect the electoral process.

Sources in the Pakistan People’s Party said Election Commission secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad had written to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto in response to a letter she had sent on Nov 22 to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Mohammad Farooq seeking reversal of transfer and posting of judges, claiming that the transfers and postings were already in the pipeline when the election schedule was announced.

“The transfer orders have already been acted upon and any order reversing the same may seriously affect the electoral process,” said the letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The EC official said the conduct of general elections order, 2002 or the Representation of the People Act, 1976, did not bar transfer or posting of civil servants before or during elections.

“However, the Election Commission with a view to conduct elections … in free, fair and transparent manner inter alia issues a directive banning bulk transfers of civil servants … after the issuance of the election schedule. Needless to point out that such transfers and postings do not include those made in exigencies of services, etc,” he said.

Referring to the apprehension expressed by Ms Bhutto about the pilferage of ballot papers and their possible misuse on the polling day, the EC secretary said a ‘foolproof’ mechanism had been provided for printing and distribution of ballot papers in a secure manner. He said utmost care had been taken at every stage of the process and there was no chance of misuse of ballot papers.

He said some practicable suggestions which might help make the electoral process more transparent would be acted upon at the appropriate stage. He said 430,000 transparent ballot boxes were being provided for the January 8 elections.

Ms Bhutto in her letter had given some suggestions to the CEC for ensuring free and fair elections.

She had pointed out that wide-scale reshuffling of judges and magistrates had taken place after the announcement of the election schedule and registrars of the Sindh High Court and the Punjab high Court had been changed.

Meanwhile, the Punjab chief secretary has ordered reversal of postings and transfers in the province made after the announcement of the poll schedule.

According to EC secretary Dilshad, the orders had been passed in compliance with the directive issued by the Election Commission banning postings and transfers of civil servants.

He said the chief secretary had directed administrative secretaries, provincial police officer and district coordination officers to ensure that the EC directive was not violated and to withdraw postings and transfers made during the ban.

The authorities have been asked to seek permission from the Election Commission in cases where posting or transfer is deemed necessary from administrative point of view.