CHRE pushes for transparent elections under ECP
* Calls upon human rights community, civil society to sensitise citizens on issue
LAHORE: Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE), a human rights body focusing its efforts on the democratic development in Pakistan, has demanded that the vote registration and verification process by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) be carried out transparently by quashing possibilities of rigging and bogus voting, that occurred on large scale in the 2008 general elections.
A statement issued by the organisation’s director, Samson Salamat, on Tuesday, said that registration of all eligible voters and compilation of error-free electoral rolls was essential for a credible and transparent electoral process in the future.
He said that an effective and credible mechanism for registration and verification process was required which, once formed, should be followed strictly. Salamat added that skilled staff should be designated to complete the important task within the given time limit and then given further time for recheck and reviewing.
The statement further demanded that registration of all eligible voters, including the registration of those voters belonging to religious minorities and members of the transgender community must be ensured and not ignored at any cost.
“We call upon the political parties, human rights community and other civil society groups to sensitise and mobilise the citizens for the success of this important drive by the ECP and also to ensure that the process is carried out in an effective and credible manner,” he said.
Salamat also appeal to the citizens to extend their cooperation to the ECP staff and provide complete and correct information so that their votes could not be misused.
The CHRE further recommended that the ECP make concrete policies to deal with other hurdles coming in the way of free and fair elections, such as buying and selling of votes, illegal ban on women’s vote casting, use of force to get votes, religious discrimination, sectarian or ethnic biases and meddling of state institutions.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/31/2011
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