Karachi, August 10; In a Briefing organized by PILDAT, the CGEP members strongly demanded that Election Commission should act independently. Welcoming Election Commission's Strategic Plan, CGEP demanded that media and civil society should conduct regular periodic review of its implementation. The new legislation on electoral reforms is on the cards and it is important that all required comprehensive set of electoral reforms is included in it.

Participants and the CGEP members questioned why the ECP is not taking action against those campaigning in by-elections using state resources. There would not have been such a crisis of fake degrees in the country had the ECP done its job prior to 2008 General Election, they said. Nomination papers and declarations made by every candidate ahead of an election should be placed on the ECP website prior to an Election so that media and voters have access to those, demanded CGEP members. Categories such as nationalities other than Pakistan as well as resident status of any other country should also be included in the Nomination & Declaration Forms of all candidates.

Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Senior Columnist, Mr. Javed Jabbar, Former Senator and Federal Minister of Information & Media Development and Science and Technology and Lt Gen (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider, Former Governor Sindh, Interior Minister represented the CGEP members in the briefing session.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director-PILDAT opened the session by offering prayers for the those who lost their lives in the plane crash on July 28, 2010 and the recent floods in Pakistan. There is a trust deficit between public and the ECP as Pakistan has one of the lowest voter turn-outs in the world and the lowest in South Asia. In such circumstances it is crucial for media to be aware and raise voice for required electoral reforms and urge the Government and the ECP to institute timely and thorough reforms. Mr. Mehboob, while summarizing the CGEP proposed electoral reforms, said that some of the CGEP proposed reforms are already incorporated by the 18th Constitutional Amendment but still there are certain areas calling for the attention of the Government and the ECP. The CGEP demanded not to appoint a retired Judge as CEC; legal cover for the Code of Conduct and a comprehensive code of conduct � the Code does not cover the Prime Minister but just ministers and does not cover the President either � application of the Code of Conduct in Elections as well as by-Election, etc. �The ECP should ensure compliance with laws and Code of Conduct in a pro-active manner and not wait for a formal complaint,� he said in his presentation. He further added that election petitions should be disposed off within the 4 months prescribed period while a limit should be set for appeals as well. It is crucial to post the progressive election results on the ECP website while declaration statements of the candidates before election should be posted on the ECP website. The ECP needs to scrutinize elections expenses. Mr. Mehboob urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to be pro-active and bold in addressing irregularities. Mr. Mehboob also raised the importance of electoral rolls in the credibility and transparency of elections. He appreciated the new leadership of the ECP and their initiative of taking 5-year Strategic Plan 2010-2014.

Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Senior Columnist while talking on the topic of required electoral reforms said that elections are the basis of democracy and a credible election is the only tool through which democracy can flourish. Credibility of an election contributes to the strengthening of the democracy. He said that we need to restore confidence of people on the electoral process. He commended the incorporation of CGEP proposals in the 18th Constitutional Amendment and 5-Year strategic plan of the ECP.

The Election Commission of Pakistan should act as a pillar of democracy, saidMr. Javed Jabbar, former Senator & Federal Minister for Information and Media Development and Science and Technology. Unfortunately the ECP has not been able to fulfil the constitutional role assigned to it. Today we see how actively the Judiciary is playing its role and it is time that the ECP should also act independently and should not hesitate on taking Suo moto notice and actions on violations not only during the elections but also otherwise. The ECP is merely playing a role of conducting elections but in true democratic society election commission should be a custodian of democracy. It is the Election Commission that supports democracy through enabling and facilitating the transition of democracy from one to the other tenure, he said.

Lt. Gen Moinuddin Haider, Former Governor Sindh and Interior Minister strongly condemned the constitutional omission on intra party elections. He said that regrettably political parties do not have intentions to bring in real democracy through reliable elections. Overnight changing of polling stations, re allocation of constituencies and such other ill acts hinder the way of credible elections. He appreciated the fforts by the ECP to make a 5-Year Strategic Plan. He said that this is the time when our country needs a strong Chief Election Commissioner who can cope with unwarranted pressures by the Government and other political parties. He also emphasized on the role of media and civil society to scrutinize the government and flaws of the Election Commission. He also recommended that appointment of polling staffs need to be transparent and without the influence of government and instead of appointing only teachers as polling staff, we should appoint members of the youth who can be more neutral.

Ms. Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Managing director Hum TV, stressed on the issue of corruption in rural areas during elections. Colonial thinking still prevails in the rural areas that decide the fate of public. She also condemned the faulty electoral rolls and suspicious role of the State Agencies. She opposed the appointment of retired judges as Chief election Commissioner and Commissioners.

Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jagezai, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, insisted on the strong, independent and powerful Election Commission. Mr. Jogezai also supported the CGEP proposal to make permanent polling stations. He also criticised the 18th Constitutional Amendment for deleting the clause on intra party elections.

In a question answer session, participants raised their concerns on the faulty electoral rolls and strongly demanded the timely electoral reforms to be implemented in the country.

The PILDAT Briefing has been organized under project titled Electoral and Parliamentary Process and Civil Society in Pakistan, in partnership with the East-West Centre, Hawaii and supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund.