CEC rules out delay says ECP all geared up for holding elections on Feb 8

• ECP responsible for holding peaceful, transparent polls, says CEC.
• He says EMS to ensure transparent elections instead of RTS.
• No chance of deferment of polls in KP, Balochistan, Raja says.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday said preparations for holding “peaceful and transparent” elections on time were complete and ruled out the idea that they will be delayed.

In an informal talk with journalists in Islamabad after presiding over a meeting at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Raja said due to lack of time, there was no capacity for printing more ballot papers.

“It is the responsibility of the ECP to hold peaceful and transparent elections. The commission provided level playing field to all the political parties and we have submitted a detailed report in this regard to the Supreme Court,” he said.

The CEC said the top electoral body had issued directives to all the chief secretaries and inspector generals. He said the Election Management System (EMS) will ensure transparent elections instead of Result Transmission System (RTS). He also said the ECP was performing its role very well.

Refuting the rumours, the election commission sources said there was no possibility of postponement of elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. They said the ECP meeting had decided that the general elections would be held on February 8.

The printing of ballot papers has been decided according to the rulings of the Supreme Court related to various constituencies, they added.

“If orders are made for printing the papers again, the ballot paper will not be able to be printed for unavailability of the papers,” the sources said.

The sources said papers with special features had run out and printing corporations also had less capacity.

The ECP had scheduled a meeting today (Thursday) to discuss the law and order situation in KP and Balochistan ahead of the upcoming polls.

An official said that taking notice of the murder of Rehan Zeb Khan, an independent candidate for NA-8 Bajaur and a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the ECP had directed the chief secretary and inspector general of police, KP, to submit a comprehensive report about the incident.

Rehan Zeb, a young PTI activist, had lost his life when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on him in the Bajaur district on Wednesday.