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GDA demands autonomous Ehtesab, election commissions

T A MALIK

ISLAMABAD: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) has demanded of the government for fully autonomous ehtesab and election commissions under the constitution to perform their duties.

This was stated by PML (J) President Hamid Nasir Chatha while addressing a press conference after the meeting of the GDA held here on Thursday presided over by Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan PML (J) central secretariat.

He said that election commission should be independent, impartial and fully autonomous and complete the electoral roll according to its responsibilities.

He said that the GDA would oppose any move to make amendments in the constitution or formulation of new constitution.

He said it is impossible to prepare a consensus constitution and added that the procedure for amendments have also been defined in the constitution.

Chatha said that the GDA would also oppose the presidential system of government because the parliamentary form of government is unanimous decision of the nation.

He said that local bodies election should be held through provincial election commission and federal government should play its role as coordinator.

He said the CTBT was also discussed in the meeting and the GDA has demanded not to sign it without the consensus of the nation or the elected government should be given responsibility to decide about it.

The GDA has also observed that the arrested under NAB Ordinance are maltreated and demanded that the cases be heard where it registered, he said and added that the GDA has also condemned the downsizing of the government employees and demanded that it should be by attrition.

To a question about alliance with PML (N), he said that the PML (N) has not contacted with the GDA in this regard.

To another query about protest march against government, he replied that it was not discussed in the meeting.

He said that the next meeting of the GDA would be held at Lahore on March 21, where the decision would be finalised to challenge the NAB Ordinance 1999.