CEC to consider if advisers ask him to quit

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz yesterday said he will consider if advisers to the caretaker government request him to resign from his post but he reminded them to follow the constitution before making such request.

“I am 100 per cent confident–absolutely confident–that insha Allah there will be an election and everybody will participate in it,” Aziz said, adding that the EC is prepared to hold the election in time.

“I have told you many times that the posts of CEC and other election commissioners are constitutional posts and we have been appointed through a special process,” Aziz told reporters at his office yesterday.

“We have been working based on that process and our work will continue until the election is over,” he said, hinting at his unwillingness to resign, when newsmen asked about his reaction over some caretaker government advisers’

opinions in favour of reconstituting the Election Commission (EC).

“This is a constitutional post and I believe all the advisers know that fact. There are some rules that should be followed here,” he said.

“I do not believe that the advisers think the disputes relating to the EC would be removed if I resign,” he said, adding, “I cannot say anything beyond the constitution and they should not also.

“If the advisers request me to resign, I will consider their request,” the CEC, however, said after a while. “But so far, there has been no contact between the caretaker government and me,” he said.

“How can you say a free and fair election is not possible under my authority?” the CEC threw a counter question to the reporters who referred to observations of different political parties and civil society groups.

The CEC declined to comment on how long it will take to print the updated voter lists with photos of the voters.

Asked if he thinks that the election will be a meaningful and fair one in case the 14-party combine boycotts the election, Aziz said, “This is a hypothetical question and its answer would also be hypothetical.” But he did not say the answer.

On clean candidates, Aziz said, “Those who will nominate the candidates know better than us who is honest and who is not. They also know about the income and expenditure of their candidates. The Anti-Corruption Commission also has better mechanism to find out the information.”

He expressed dissatisfaction over a flurry of questions from the newsmen. “I will inform you if I have something new,” he told the reporters.

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