Army may supervise general elections in AJK, says CEC

ISLAMABAD: General elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) would be held next year after updating the electoral lists and the Army might be called in for supervision to make the election process transparent and fair, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Riaz Akhtar Chaudhry said on Sunday

Addressing a press conference at the election commission’s office, the AJK CEC said the AJK Legislative Assembly was completing its constitutional term on July 30, 2006 and the Election Commission (EC) would hold elections two months before this date. He said electoral rolls would be updated and advice of political groups had been sought. He said a code of conduct would be chalked out and legal action would be initiated against candidates who violate it. He said contestants would not be allowed to display weapons during campaigns but would be allowed to hold public gatherings. He said candidates could not spend more than the limit set on financial expenditure. He said polling agents would be given result soon after the vote count and computerised identity cards would not be mandatory for casting votes and eligible voters could cast their votes after showing their identity through passport or any other valid legal document.

He said the government is yet to enact an act to create another seat for Muzaffarabad in AJK Assembly and added that if the act was not enacted, polling would be held only for 48 seats. He said decisions on electoral objections would be made within 90 days. He said Britain and Pakistan’s consent was required to give expatriate Kashmiris the right to vote. online

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