PESHAWAR, Jan 9: Free, fair and impartial elections are impossible under President Pervez Musharraf and his dispensation, a seminar was told on Wednesday.

The seminar titled “Women in Election 2008 sans Benazir Bhutto” was organised by the Aurat Foundation and the Pakistan Coalition for Free, Fair and Democratic Elections. The participants from a wide cross section of society adopted a 12-point declaration stating that polls could not be held freely, fairly and impartially unless the deposed judges were reinstated immediately.

Speakers called for the removal of all judges who had taken the oath under the Provisional Constitution Order. They feared that the general election would be massively rigged and hand-picked politicians would enter the corridors of power though these polls.

They demanded the immediate restoration of the Constitution, fundamental rights and power of judiciary.

They urged the government to set-up a “truly independent and effective” Election Commission with the consensus of all major political parties.

They stressed the need for establishing neutral caretaker set ups at federal and provincial levels in consultations with all stakeholders.

Referring to the curbs on media, they criticised the amendments made to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance and stressed that a free media was necessary for transparent polls.

They called for an end to the alleged interference of spy agencies in national politics and demanded that all postings and transfers of government officials announced after Nov 3 should be declared null and void.