The Election Commission should not be given such power that they might misuse, Election Commissioner Zabed Ali said.
“Everybody wants to strengthen the EC. But that does not mean turning the EC into a ‘Frankenstein’ in the name of giving it any such power that may prompt immoral decision against any interest,” he told reporters wednesday referring to the issue of cancelling Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration.
Dr Frankenstein is a popular character from a 19th century English novel who accidentally made a monster but himself could not control. In the recent times, the term Frankenstein refers to the monster instead of the scientist.
“The EC is waiting for the High Court verdict [August 1] to cancel Jamaat’s registration. The commission is not taking any step in this regard as yet because Jamaat has appealed against the court order,” Zabed Ali said adding that the EC had no authority to cancel registration of any political party.
“However, if the final High Court verdict declares Jamaat’s registration illegal, the EC too will cancel its registration,” Zabed explained.
Moreover, the government on August 12, appealed to the Supreme Court seeking a ban on Jamaat for its anti-liberation role since 1971.
Zabed Ali said the commission could cancel Jamaat’s registration if the government banned it as a party. Regarding the local government elections, the commissioner said preparations were on to hold elections in five newly-formed upazilas and the by-polls in the vacated parliamentary constituencies.
He also criticised the local government ministry saying the EC had to suspend elections in three municipalities after having announced the schedules upon request from the ministry. He advised the ministry to inform the EC about their problems before the polls schedules were announced.