'Baseless' campaign not acceptable: Fakhruddin
08 February, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The chief election commissioner on Thursday asked all political parties and their leaders to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in ensuring a smooth transition from one democratic government to the next instead of making false and baseless allegations.
Some political parties have recently expressed reservations against the ECP members and Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and demanded the commission's dissolution.
"This criticism is most unfortunate as we are only six weeks away from the expiry of the term of present government and on the verge of a smooth transition from one democratic government to the next for the very first time," said Ebrahim.
In an official statement the chief election commissioner said that the appointments of all the members of the ECP and himself were made in complete compliance with all the constitutional provisions.
"We are all retired judges of our respective superior courts and have absolutely no political affiliation," he asserted.
"It is pertinent to note that none of the attacks against us give any details about our so-called political affiliations and only make vague, unsubstantiated and baseless allegations. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to malign the ECP for political gain. I appreciate this is the nature of politics, but personal attacks on our integrity and independence without any basis whatsoever is unacceptable and will only serve to dent public confidence on the electoral process," the CEC noted.
He further said that stakeholders are obviously entitled to criticise the work of the ECP and the commission has welcomed all suggestions by quarters concerned. "Never has the ECP been so open and transparent as it is presently. We have met leaders from all parties, NGOs, government officials, members from the bureaucracy and foreign dignitaries to continuously learn and address their concerns," Ebrahim said, adding that the commission has taken notice of allegations of pre-poll rigging.
End.
|
