ISLAMABAD: A prominent Pakistani think tank on Thursday demanded strict action by the country’s election commission against attempts of pre-electoral rigging in run up to the general elections scheduled for May 11.

Terming it as pre-poll rigging, the Citizens Group on Electoral Process (CGEP), facilitated by PILDAT, has expressed serious concern at the actions taken by the outgoing federal and provincial governments in relation to mass regularisation of contract employees.

The CGEP has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take note of these actions and declare actions like transfer and postings of federal and provincial employees and increase in perks and privileges of functionaries null and void.

The group also requested the forthcoming interim governments at the centre and in provinces to review such actions by outgoing administrations and reverse these.

Strict action has been demanded by the group against individuals threatening to disturb the electoral process and polling on the day of polling through agitation and other means.

The CGEP also expressed concern on reports that some lawmakers approved hefty lifetime packages of perks and privileges for themselves just before dissolution of their respective assemblies.

With former CJ Justice (retd) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui in the chair, the CGEP members who joined the meeting included renowned journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, former Sindh governor and interior minister Lt-Gen (retd.) Moinuddin Haider, renowned journalist Mujibur Rehman Shami, Justice (retd) Nasira Iqbal, former federal minister Omer Khan Afridi, former Punjab governor Shahid Hamid, Syed Fasih Iqbal, Zubyr Soomro, PILDAT president Ahmed Bilal Mehboob and joint director PILDAT Aasiya Riaz.