EC, not army or judiciary, to supervise polls, says Ebrahim



KARACHI  - Chief Election Commissioner justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim on Sunday dispelled as misplaced the impression of next general elections being held under the supervision of the army or judiciary.In an interview with a private television, Ebrahim said the commission would supervise the electoral process by itself, but might ask for the help of the army or judiciary under the Constitution. He clarified that the letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry requested another review of the judicial policy not supervision of the elections. He further said that holding fair and free elections was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Ebrahim, however, vouched for complete transparency in the next elections, due in 2013. As per the judicial policy, judicial officers cannot be appointed as returning officers; on this count, the election commission requested the court for its review.About the dual nationality issue, the chief election commissioner said action would be initiated officially against dual nationality holders in the light of the law after the deadline for submitting fresh oaths.

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