ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday refuted the allegations of partiality levelled by the European Union Election Observers Mission in its report on the polls.

An ECP spokesman said that the commission had acted with neutrality, impartiality, objectivity and independence at every stage of the election process.

“This is amply demonstrated by the statements made with one voice by all the polling agents, including those of PPP, PML(N), Tehrik-i-Insaaf, MMA, Awami Tehrik, and PML(Q),” he pointed out.

He further said that these statements were duly recorded by the TV team in presence of the senior representatives of the Associated Press of Pakistan and the EC secretary.

The spokesman said it was also incorrect that the grievance cell established by the election commission was de facto and not operational. On the contrary, he added, the chief election commissioner had taken many suo motu actions on the basis of press reports to redress the grievances of the PPP’s candidates and other parties.

The Nazims were directed not to interfere in the election process. The executive authorities were directed to be neutral and impartial, and no complaint of major violation of the directions issued by the commission had been received, the spokesman maintained.

“It is wholly false that the election symbols on mock ballot papers in the public information video was broadcast on national television,” he said.

The spokesman explained that the advertisement of stamping on the PML-QA’s election symbol, cycle, was sponsored by that party on payment and had nothing to do with the ECP.

“The allegations are mala fide, vague and have been levelled in general terms without specifying with particularly any instance of partiality by the election commission,” he said.