Peshawar, Dec 3: The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI)-Pakistan has said that free and fair elections are inconceivable in the absence of an independent judiciary, and demanded the reinstatement of the sacked judges and restoration of the Constitution.

This CPDI statement said, "Political parties, civil society and people at large, have no confidence in the impartiality and neutrality of the judges, who have been retained or appointed after the imposition of emergency rule by President Pervez Musharraf."

It is imperative, therefore, that the sacked judges of the apex courts should be immediately reinstated to uphold the Constitution and adjudicate the election-related complaints and appeals being filed by candidates or political parties, it added.

The CPDI statement said that Musharraf was widely considered a partisan President because of his close ties with the former ruling political parties and his ‘strong views and discriminatory actions’ against the leading opposition leaders.

Since the upcoming general elections are very crucial in the history of Pakistan, there is a need for making it credible, the statement said.

It added if the elections lost credibility, it would exacerbate the ongoing political and constitutional crisis and might have adverse impact on the security of the country.

The CPDI urged President Pervez Musharraf to reinstate the sacked judges as a first step to ensure the transparency of elections, the Daily Times reported. (ANI)