LAHORE, Aug 1: PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik has demanded constitution of an independent election commission for free and fair local elections. Malik, who is also party’s central finance secretary, said in a statement that no fair election was possible without a sovereign and powerful election commission, specially in a dictatorial era.

He said the experience had showed that the election commission had failed in taking cognizance of what he called pre-poll rigging at the highest level, the misuse of funds and government machinery and the violation of rules and ethics. The PML-N leader said the ARD and the MMA were organizing an APC to put moral pressure on the government to hold free and fair polls.