No delimitation in Karachi before polls: CEC
23 January, 2013
KARACHI: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Fakhrudin G Ebrahim has categorically stated that new delimitation of constituencies could not be carried out in Karachi.
Talking to the media, the CEC said that delimitation of constituencies in Karachi is not an easy task and pointed out that the matter is sub judice.
The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for fresh delimitation of the constituencies in Karachi.
He reiterated that he had accepted the CEC's job as a mission and before holding free, fair and impartial, he would not go anywhere.
He categorically rejected that he was resigning. He declared, "Neither I am going, nor will I go. I am very much here as long as the mission is completed." He said the Election Commission was working even in holidays to complete the mission.
He said the election commission would provide friendly environment to voters to ensure fair and free elections.
He said process of voters' lists verification in Karachi was a difficult task; however, the ECP staff was working on it in a transparent way.
Justice (R) Ibrahim said there was no need of army for voters' lists verification process as there is no law and order issue. He said serious efforts are being made to complete the process of verifying the voters' list in Karachi, adding that Corps Commander Karachi had assured him that army personnel would be provided to the election commission's staff wherever necessary.
Justice (retd) Ibrahim urged citizens to quickly register their votes for the elections, as it was the duty of every Pakistani to cast his or her vote.
Only transparent elections can result in the improvement of the country's situation and Pakistan had no future if the elections were not held transparently, he said.
Justice (R) Ibrahim said that efforts are being made to ensure that the next elections are held in a free‚ fair and transparent manner.
He said all stakeholders are cooperating with the Election Commission in this regard.
APP adds: Justice (R) Ibrahim appreciated cooperation of the people with the staff of the Election Commission during door-to-door verification of voters' lists and said the process is underway in a good way.
He said whenever a caretaker government comes into power, he will work with it.
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