White Paper released by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)
Islamabad, the 05th September, 2013: In the wake of the White Paper released by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), received in the Election Commission on 2nd September, 2013 regarding General Elections-2013, and the various demands made by the party leadership during the past couple of weeks regarding alleged rigging in the Elections, Secretary Election Commission Mr. Ishtiak Ahmad Khan has issued this initial response to the various issues raised through the white paper and the media.
2. Election Commission of Pakistan is mandated by the Constitution to ensure that the Elections are held honestly, justly, fairly & in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against. With a view to discharging this constitutional responsibility, the Election Commission in consultation with the Political Parties and other stake holders has taken all possible steps to achieve the above mentioned goal.
3. General Elections-2013 have been hailed all over the world as a big success in terms of a step forward towards strengthening of democracy in the country. The Political Parties too have accepted the election results with certain individual complaints and reservations including the ones expressed by PTI.
4. To start with, ECP itself is carrying out a post-General Elections-2013 analysis to identify the strengths as well as weaknesses observed so that further improvement could be brought about in the electoral processes for future Elections and, therefore, any similar effort/attempt made by any other quarter is in concord with ECP’s policy.
5. It also needs to be pointed out that the subject matter of the white paper is sub-judice in the Election Tribunals and, therefore, the Election Commission would only respond in broad terms to the complaints made by PTI as follows:
i) Seeking redressal of complaints/grievances either by PTI or any other political party is their inherent right as enshrined in the law and, therefore, the Election Commission supports that;
ii) In order to avoid delay caused in disposal of petitions, as was the case in the past, the Election Commission has opted for constitution of election tribunals comprising retired District & Session Judges so that the election petitions could be disposed of within 120 days as specified in the law and, therefore, the Election Commission would also support any such demand by anyone including the PTI for expeditious disposal of election petitions;
iii) It was the Election Commission’s initiative to prepare the electoral rolls with photographs for identification of each voter and with the additional precautionary measure in terms of obtaining thumb impressions of the voters in magnetized ink to preclude the possibility of impersonation by any person and to preempt/prevent casting of bogus votes. Thus, any demand made by any quarter/political party including PTI in terms of seeking rechecking of election results and verification of thumb impressions is concurred to by the Election Commission so that confidence of the electorate is enhanced in the electoral system;
iv) The Election Commission of Pakistan has taken all possible steps in light of the relevant laws, rules and directions of Hon`ble Supreme Court to ensure that the election is held justly, fairly and honestly as envisaged in the Constitution;
v) It may also be made clear that on the polling day the polling takes place under the supervision of the Districts Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Presiding Officers with the assistance of the polling staff engaged from the Provincial Governments and the Federal Government while the security personnel belong to provincial police and the Federal Security Forces. No officer/official of the Election Commission of Pakistan plays any direct role in this exercise and they only assist the DROs/ROs where required;
vi) PTI had filed 77 petitions before the Election Commission under section 103-AA of Representation of People Act-1976 (ROPA) which have been disposed of by the Election Commission. Besides, PTI filed 61 election petitions under section 52 of the ROPA, 1976 with ECP which have been forwarded to the respective Election Tribunals. Like-wise, other political parties and candidates filed 320 petitions under Section 103 AA of the ROPA, 1976 which were disposed of by the Election Commission. Furthermore, 341 election petitions filed by political parties and candidates under section 52 of the ROPA, 1976 have also been forwarded to the respective Election Tribunals;
vii) As to the allegations mentioned in the white paper, these need to be presented to the respective Election Tribunals to substantiate the complaints/grievances mentioned in the election petitions filed in the Tribunals; &
viii) Election Commission would examine the specific allegations pertaining to the ECP, if any, and would respond to that in due course of time, if and when so required, by any competent forum.
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