Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad Monday said the parliament would decide about the formation of polls-time government to hold the next parliamentary elections.
“The parliament will decide whether the next parliamentary election will be held without dissolving the parliament or not,” he told reporters at the Election Commission Secretariat in the capital.
He, however, said the commission would ensure level playing field for all candidates if the election was held before 90 days or after 90 days of dissolving the parliament.
“It is not the matter of holding the polls before 90 days or after 90 days. It is a matter of ensuring level playing field for all candidates. We will ensure fairness for all after examining the codes of conduct of other democratic countries,” he said.
Asked about any pressure from any corner, Rakibuddin said: “We did not feel any pressure from any. We would prove neutrality through our works.”
In reply to a query about any directives from the government, he said: “No directives came to the EC from the government. The directives for the commission are kept in the constitution.”
The incumbent EC held around 600 elections including six major city corporations and by-elections in free, fair and impartial manner, he claimed.
Asked about Prime Minister’s Adviser HT Imam’s remark that the EC’s opinion would be sought about whether to hold the parliamentary elections after dissolving the parliament or keeping the parliament alive, the CEC said everyone had his own opinion, but the commission would take decision as per the constitution.
About holding talks with the political parties before the next general elections, the CEC said the previous EC held dialogue with the political parties.
The incumbent EC also sat with the civil society and political parties, he said, adding that the EC’s door was always open for all political parties.
“They [political parties] can communicate and discuss with the commission,” he added.
Jamaat’s meeting with EC
Asked about not giving chance to Jamaat-e-Islami for meeting with the commission, Rakibuddin said the commission could not give time to Jamaat because it had a row of meetings.
A delegation of Jamaat was supposed to meet with the EC Monday to request the commission not ot drop the names of convicted war criminals and collaborators from the voter list. Jamaat will also raise the issue of restoring the party’s registration with the EC.
Replying to a query about Jamaat, the CEC said it would follow the verdict of the court since it would remain effective till any other verdict or review. All processes of the commission were under judicial scrutiny, he added.
