Writ seeks armed forces’ engagement in voting, counting, result publishing

A writ petition was filed with the High Court today seeking its directives upon the authorities concerned to engage armed forces with the process of voting, vote counting and results publishing.

Advocate Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted the petition also praying to the HC to issue a rule asking the Election Commission and the government to explain why the commission’s failure to hold the 11th parliamentary election by engaging its own staff should not be declared illegal.

In the petition, he said the EC is supposed to run the voting process by its own officials and staff but it is using the administrative officials in holding the process which is contradictory to the constitution.

He added that if the army, navy and air forces are deployed at all the polling booths and centres across the country, the election will be held in free and fair manner.

The army was involved in preparing a smart voter list before the 2008 election and therefore, the election was held in a very free and fair manner, he said.

The HC may hear the petition tomorrow, he told The Daily Star.