The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former Adviser of the Caretaker Government and Chairman of Regulatory Reforms Commission Dr Akbar Ali Khan yesterday observed that both the present government and the Election Commission should resign on moral grounds if they failed to hold the parliamentary elections by this year.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of the Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) in the conference room of Board of Investment (BoI) he also opined that the Election Commission (EC) could sue the present caretaker government if it creates hurdles on way to holding the polls.

"If the Election Commission failed to hold the election by December 31, question will be raised against the government for their legality," he warned.

Dr Khan said the EC has to hold the elections within the timeframe notwithstanding any barrier coming from government side.

"There is no alternative means to the Election Commission as per the Constitution but to hold election within a specific timeframe after preparing the voter list," he said adding that the election has to be held within 90 days of publication of the voter list.

Mentioning that holding elections is the duty of the Commission, not of the government," he said the EC could go to the court if it feels that the government putting barricades.

He referred that the Indian Election Commission had filed a case in the past against the government on the same grounds.

The former Adviser said the present caretaker government has got its legal ground till now though it is 'undemocratic; but it will lose its legal ground to be in power if it fails to hold the election by December 31.

Replying to a question on participation of the two major political parties in the polls, he said it is the headache of the caretaker government to bring them in the fray.

He, however, said that if any major political party does take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections they would be affected.

The former Adviser further said, the certain political party would weaken and the extremists in the party take the chance to establish their supremacy over the party.

He said both the BNP and the Awami League are reeling from a purge on the political arena following the 1/11 changeover.

Earlier, the RRC meeting suggested the government to audit a firm that would come to the joint stock for registration to avoid foot dragging.

A committee was formed in this regard and the committee would submit their findings in next one month.