ISLAMABAD, March 22: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, a conglomeration of six religio-political parties, has urged the Chief Election Commissioner not to make his position controversial by accepting the responsibility of holding referendum in the country.
Speaking at a news conference after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan, on Friday, the deputy chief of Jamat-i-Islami, Liaquat Baloch, said that the MMA delegation informed the CEC of its reservations about the recent announcements that EC would be entrusted with the task of holding referendum. It also demanded allotment of a single election symbol to the Majlis for coming elections.
The delegation urged the CEC to refuse the responsibility of holding referendum as the prestige of this institution was damaged badly by accepting the responsibility during Zia era.
The Majlis delegation, led by Liaquat Baloch, included Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Secretary-General JUI, Pir Ijaz Hashmi (JUP), Gul Andaz Abbasi, Mian Mohammad Aslam and Fareed Paracha, all of JI.
The Majlis leaders demanded implementation of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution, and holding of polls on the basis of proportionate electoral system.
The JI leader said the CEC was apprised about the importance of taking political parties into confidence on the appointment of CEC. “We told him that when he was chief justice the Supreme Court had not allowed Gen Musharraf to make amendments to the Constitution, which was being flouted now”.
In response, the CEC said the matter ought to be referred to the court as he could not comment since a case was pending before the court.
Other demands of the Majlis during the meeting included, limiting election expenditures and ensuring their scrutiny and raising the period of scrutiny of nomination papers by three days. He said the Majlis also demanded that declaration of assets by members be made mandatory and the complaints of rival candidates must be given full chance of hearing.
The delegation also demanded that all political parties should be accorded equal time on official electronic media, curbs on political activities be lifted and steps should be taken to ensure that no change in polling scheme would be made after its announcement, he added.
INTERFERENCE RULED OUT: Talking to the delegation, the CEC ruled out any direct or indirect interference in the election process.
He said that the holding of free, fair and independent elections was his first priority.
He said the constitutional and legal provisions were the basic source of light for the Election Commission and the principles of neutrality, objectivity, impartiality and independence would be strictly followed.
The CEC said he was determined to expose any individual who tried to intervene in the election process before the whole nation.
The CEC said that he was firm in his belief that democracy was the only viable way for the solution of the problems of the nation.
He said he had been consulting all the political parties without any discrimination and all of them had publicly expressed their satisfaction with the steps so far taken by the commission. He said the process of consultation would continue, as he valued even the negative criticizm because criticizm was also one of the sources of guidance.
Responding to a proposal by the delegation regarding fixing of the election expenses for the candidates, the CEC said a consensus among the political parties should be evolved and a solid proposal in the form of a legal draft should be submitted to him for consideration.
The CEC said the preliminary delimitation of constituencies would be announced on March 26, and 15 days would be given to the public to raise objections and suggestions.
The CEC also said that draft electoral rolls would be announced on April 2, and 21 days would be given to the people to file claims and objections.