Multan: December 10, 2012. (PCP) Centre for Human Rights Education, a human rights organization working for democratic development in Pakistan held a Peoples Convention in Multan, the central city of Southern Punjab in collaboration with its member organizations Rabta Pakistan, Human and Democracy Education Foundation and Insan Dost Foundation to commemorate International Human Rights Day. The Peoples Convention was participated by approximately 190 men and women including representatives of the political parties, state institutions, civil society organizations, she-male community, minority communities etc. Mr. Samson Salamat, Director of Centre for Human Rights Education in his opening remarks said that “we firmly believe on democracy and that a transparent and credible electoral process is imperative for a true democratic and accountable Pakistan. We are fast approaching towards general elections and therefore all stake-holders should put their maximum efforts to deal with the hurdles to enhance the credibility and transparency of the electoral process”. The other speakers included Professor Hanif Chaudhary (PML-Functional), Shaukat Ashfaq (Editor, Daily Pakistan), Ijaz Janjua (Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf), Altaf Baloch (Pakistan Muslim League- N), Shahana Shani (She-male Association- South Punjab) and Rao Zafar Iqbal (Jamat-e-Islami), M A Bhutta (Seriki Party), Rao Waqar (Awami Tehrik). The participants of the Peoples Conventions demanded that: - The Elections should be announced and held on time and there shouldn’t be any delay. - An impartial caretaker government should be constituted on time in consultation with the political forces and according to the requirements in the constitution. - The caretaker government and the state institutions should maintain an impartial role throughout the electoral process and no state apparatus should be used for any political party. - The contesting candidates, office bearers and the workers of the political parties should follow the rules and regulation of the electoral process. Election Commission should keep a proper check and balance in this regard and strict action must be taken across the board for violating the rules and regulations. - The Election Commission of Pakistan must ensure the preparation of error free and credible electoral rolls. All efforts should be made to ensure that the discrepancies are removed. • The Election Commission should initiate advocacy campaigns to make the voters realize the importance of their vote and of their participation in the electoral process. These campaigns must be conducted on priority basis in constituencies with low number of candidates, or feudalist dominance. • Election Commission of Pakistan should make concrete policies to deal with the hurdles such as buying and selling of votes, illegal ban on women’s vote casting, use of terror or violence, religious, gender and ethnic biases and meddling of the state institutions. • Security measures should be made much more effective to ensure maintenance of law and order. The restrictions on bearing and exhibiting of the arms should be enforced strictly. • The voters should select their candidate and political parties for vote on merit and should reject the politics on the basis of cast or sect or any other affiliation which promotes hatred and biases among the citizens.