Claims against Elections Commission are false: Fuad Thaufeeq

Elections Commission (EC) has refuted the claims that the EC has failed to carry out its official responsibilities.

President of Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg said today that if a group had acted against the regulation on political parties, the Commission would have exercised its mandate and taken the necessary action.

He referred to the statements that the EC had not taken any action against groups which are currently encouraging crimes in the country, and said that those cases had not been submitted to the EC.

“We need cases to be submitted to us with evidence. We can’t take action based on hearsay. We need witnesses, video recordings, other types of evidence. Cases submitted with evidence have been sent to Police,” Fuad said.

He mentioned that the EC is facing several difficulties, including those arising from still having to act according to the 2005 regulation on political parties - several articles of which are obsolete following the enforcement of the new Constitution in 2008.

A draft of proposed changes to the EC has been submitted to the Parliament, and the delay in processing these revisions results in problems for the EC.

Fuad noted that the Attorney Generals of the former and current governments have been informed of the urgent need to revise the regulation on political parties.

Referring to Attorney General Azima Shukoor’s statement that the issue of EC’s failure to carry out its official responsibilities will be sent to Parliament, Fuad said that she should proceed to do so, as it would facilitate EC the opportunity to explain the challenges it is facing, to the Parliament Committee.

Serious criticism is being targeted at the EC for not taking action against the current activities of some political parties.