EC takes spl precautionary measures for polls: Commissioner
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Amid apprehensions about sabotage, the Election Commission (EC) is taking special steps as precautionary measures to ensure a fearless voting environment for the forthcoming ninth parliamentary elections, reports UNB.
"There's no reason for getting worried about the election as we're taking special steps to ensure holding the polls in a free and fair manner," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at the EC secretariat Wednesday afternoon.
He noted that some persons went underground during the state of emergency in the country but might come up in the scene after its withdrawal.
The state of emergency, declared amid a political crisis over the issues of election in January last year, was lifted Wednesday in the run-up to the general election, now slated for December 29.
"Our law-enforcing agencies remain keen and alert about them to ensure the fearless casting of votes in the country," he told the journalists.
The election commissioner said the commission was not getting any apprehension about terrorism in the election, but it's taking the special steps as a precautionary measure.
He informed that the commission is scheduled to have a high-profile meeting with law-enforcing agencies in the morning today (Thursday) at the NEC auditorium where everything concerning security would be discussed.
Sohul said the commission would take special care about the risky and more important regions and polling centres across the country. "We'll tell the agencies to pay special care about the risky and important areas."
About the High Court verdict for the loan defaulters, the Election Commissioner said the High Court verdicts about the defaulters were hampering the printing of ballot papers.
"We'll of course abide by any order of the High Court, but the feasibility of the commission should be considered. For a day's delay, the printing of one crore (10 million) of the ballot papers remains closed," he noted.
Sohul said the EC lawyers would go to the Appetite Division to find how to make the Election Commission feasible and in order. "Problems are created in printing the ballot papers if new people are included everyday," he said, as the court gave clearance to another invalidated candidate just Wednesday.
"There's no reason for getting worried about the election as we're taking special steps to ensure holding the polls in a free and fair manner," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at the EC secretariat Wednesday afternoon.
He noted that some persons went underground during the state of emergency in the country but might come up in the scene after its withdrawal.
The state of emergency, declared amid a political crisis over the issues of election in January last year, was lifted Wednesday in the run-up to the general election, now slated for December 29.
"Our law-enforcing agencies remain keen and alert about them to ensure the fearless casting of votes in the country," he told the journalists.
The election commissioner said the commission was not getting any apprehension about terrorism in the election, but it's taking the special steps as a precautionary measure.
He informed that the commission is scheduled to have a high-profile meeting with law-enforcing agencies in the morning today (Thursday) at the NEC auditorium where everything concerning security would be discussed.
Sohul said the commission would take special care about the risky and more important regions and polling centres across the country. "We'll tell the agencies to pay special care about the risky and important areas."
About the High Court verdict for the loan defaulters, the Election Commissioner said the High Court verdicts about the defaulters were hampering the printing of ballot papers.
"We'll of course abide by any order of the High Court, but the feasibility of the commission should be considered. For a day's delay, the printing of one crore (10 million) of the ballot papers remains closed," he noted.
Sohul said the EC lawyers would go to the Appetite Division to find how to make the Election Commission feasible and in order. "Problems are created in printing the ballot papers if new people are included everyday," he said, as the court gave clearance to another invalidated candidate just Wednesday.