CGEP says the situation in Pak is not conducive for fair elections

The Citizens Group on Electoral Process (CGEP), formed by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), has observed that the situation is not favourable for conducting fair elections in Pakistan.

Peshawar, Dec 26 : The Citizens Group on Electoral Process (CGEP), formed by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), has observed that the situation is not favourable for conducting fair elections in Pakistan.

The group said that the elected parliament is the only institution that should pass constitutional amendments according to the procedure laid down in the constitution, and that using other means would be invalid.

"All those forces, that want to restore the judiciary to its pre-November 2 status, should refrain from widening the differences between them and finds a way to work together towards restoring true democracy," said the group.

It also said that the pre-poll phase of the electoral process had largely been manipulated in favour of the former ruling coalition supported by President Pervez Musharraf, and those citizens and various citizen groups who should closely monitor the remaining electoral process to collect specific evidence of any direct rigging and manipulation.

The group said that it would continue monitoring the electoral process and maintain close relationship with other credible election observers.

The group reviewed the constitutional and political environment ahead of the elections, focusing on the partisan role of President Pervez Musharraf, the weak position of the Election Commission (EC), caretaker governments in the centre and the provinces, curbs on the media and the crippling of an independent judiciary.

ANI