Kathmandu, March 7 :

Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel today assured the parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) that the Election Commission (EC) would soon formulate an election code of conduct with strong provisions to ensure free and fair constituent assembly polls.

Pokhrel said that the Election Commission would appoint election monitoring officers in all the districts. “However, such officers can move the Supreme Court if they are not satisfied with the commission’s decisions,” he added.

In the meeting, Pokhrel and election commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung answered the parliamentarians’ questions on the Election Commission Bill, 2007.

“It was an informal discussion and we have reached a consensus to pass the Bill in the House,” SAC member Hridaya Ram Thani said. The MPs sought a provision in the Bill to seek government’s approval while accepting foreign aid for the EC.

Thani said the SAC would also discuss the Election (Crime and Punishment) Bill, 2007 and other election related bills.

Meanwhile, the Administration Reforms Monitoring Committee held a discussion on the Civil Service Bill, 2007.

Korean assistance

KATHMANDU: The Government of the Republic of Korea on Wednesday provided information technology equipment worth about Rs 3.6 million to the EC. At a programme at EC, Korean Ambassador Nam Sang-Jung handed over the equipment to Acting Secretary Sushil Jung Bahadur Rana. — RSS