PESHAWAR – Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice Shakir Ullah Jan said on Saturday that the topmost priority of the Election Commission is to hold free and fair elections, adding elections will be held on time.
To hold coming general elections, preparations are in progress. Elections will be held on time. And, it is government’s responsibility to maintain law and order; however, the commission can also issue directives in this regard.
He said this while speaking at a function held at Nishtar Hall. Besides others, all regional commissioners from districts and agencies and officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Election Commission also attended the meeting. The meeting was held to review arrangements for holding coming elections in both KPK and Fata. Later, talking to media persons, Shakir Ullah Jan said that to hold free and fair local bodies and general elections, the commission was acting as per the directives issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this regard.
Voting machines may not be used in coming elections, as this time, it looks like impossible, he said adding that process of electoral lists would be completed within a month. In order to monitor spending of contesting candidates during elections, a monitoring committee has already been formed for the purpose.
He said that it would be ensured to hold free and fair elections in Fata for which all sort of steps would be taken. The Election Commission would try its level best to ensure error free electoral rolls.
Replying to a query, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Shakir Ullah Jan said that to maintain law and order, it is government’s responsibility. However, election commission can also issued directives to maintain law and order.  He said applications of blocked identity cards could contact the election commission.