ISLAMABAD: As the time for an amendment to the Constitution for open voting in the coming Senate polls runs out, the Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that the elections will be held by secret ballot.

There was no official reaction from the ECP after the government intended to enact what it called an ‘anti-horse-trading amendment’ following the announcement of the election schedule. But after last-ditch efforts made by the government to seek support from the PPP and JUI-F failed, the commission has drawn the attention of members of the national and provincial assemblies, who form the electoral college, to Article 226 of the Constitution which envisages that the election shall be held by secret ballot.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ECP said Section 3 of the Senate (elections) Act, 1975 provided that subject to the provisions of the act and rules, the commission shall regulate the procedure for organising and conducting an election in such manner as it might deem fit.

The ECP said it had directed returning officers to ensure that secrecy of the ballot was not violated in any manner. It said that members of the national and provincial assemblies would not be allowed to carry mobile phones or any other electronic device through which a picture could be taken within the polling premises.

Many believe that the ECP will find it difficult to enforce the restriction because frisking influential lawmakers will be almost impossible.

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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