Islamabad (Online): The proposed draft Elections Bill 2017 puts on stake the Freedom of journalism and speech thus transparency would be questioned mark on upcoming general election.
This was said by Chairman National Democratic Foundation (NDF) and former Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, here on Tuesday at Islamabad.
Kanwar Dilshad raised serious concerns on the proceeding and recommendations of Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) and quite surprise on silent mode of opposition parties on these serious matters.
The opposition parties even not made single effort to read the new restrictions and fines proposed in elections bill 2017 through which publicizing news on electoral process is punishable with Pak Rupee 5 million and sentence of prison upto 5 years.
He emphasized that media, voters and general public would be prohibited at the time of scrutiny process, through a specific provision under the proposed Elections Bill. This would lead to opaque results due to hidden facts and allowing only favorite persons through this controlled and non-transparent procedure. The integrity of candidates would also be on stake.
He said that some of the articles of the proposed elections bill 2017, perhaps drafted without taking ECP into confidence, are in contradiction with Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan thus failed in maintaining the fundamental rights and democratic norms of the society as guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
