IHEC authorized to punish violators- MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A parliamentarian from the Kurdistan Alliance (KA) on Saturday called on judicial and security authorities to cooperate with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to punish all violators, arguing that the commission is legally authorized to do so. “Some political parties commit violations by tearing apart electoral placards,” al-Atroushi told IraqiNews.com news agency. “There are over 24 paragraphs in eight articles of the 51-article Elections Law that specify electoral offences and stipulate punishment,” Atroushi added. During a press conference on Thursday (8/1), a commission member, Judge Qassem al-Abboudi said that it is not legally authorized to take official action against political blocs that tear apart their opponents’ electoral placards, citing the absence of a law on parties as the reason. SS (P) 1