KARACHI - Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim on Thursday reaffirmed that free, fair and transparent general elections in the country would be ensured at all cost.
Addressing a meeting of the Sindh Election Commission Office here on Thursday, he said that faultless electoral rolls are his top priority so that people could not point a finger at next elections.
He arrived at the Election Commission, Sindh office for the first time after taking charge as the CEC. Sindh Chief Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch briefed him about the electoral rolls, cases in courts and by-elections.
The chief election commissioner said the whole nation wants free elections and Election Commission was working on a strategy to fulfill this desire of the nation.
“The holding of free and fair elections would be a big challenge and all out efforts will be made in order to come up to expectations of the nation. I want to hold such elections on which no one can raise objection. Free and fair polls will change the fate of the country,” he vowed.
Justice (r) Fakhruddin asked the officials of the Election Commission to cut off their relations with politicians to ensure free polls in the country. He said that the new electoral rolls would be issued by July 31, 2012. He pointed out that the election commission is taking measures for implementation of electoral rules. He said that the election commission was looking at the elections laws and the transparency of the EC would be maintained.
He termed the publication of electoral lists the ECP’s first priority and said that the commission should remove all related discrepancies and objections raised by the public.
Fakhruddin termed the next elections a test of the country and the nation.
“I have taken oath as the CEC just a couple of days ago and I will exercise patience instead of being in a rush,” he added.
Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim was briefed by Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch on preparations for the forthcoming general elections.
CM TAKES NOTICE OF BREACHES: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of breaches in Sanghar Branch and in a canal near Tando Muhammad Khan due to flow of water from Balochistan into Nai Gaaj, district Dadu.
The water caused 50 feet breach in Sanghar Branch and 30 feet breach near Tando Muhammad Khan.
The chief minister talked to Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Commissioner Hyderabad Ahmed Bux Narejo, and Secretary Irrigation Sindh Babar Effendi on the reports that over 50 villages have been affected due to flow of water in Nai Gaaj, said a hand out issued here on Thursday.
Shah directed the officials to help the people and that the breaches be plugged at the earliest.