Several Pakistani lawmakers today expressed concerns over candidates having links with banned outfits being allowed to run in the elections, saying terrorists would enter the parliament.

They also warned the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that allowing banned organisations to contest elections would lead to bringing the extremist elements into the mainstream.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid of PML-N, along with other lawmakers in the Senate, asked the ECP and caretaker governments in Islamabad and in provinces to ensure that July 25 general elections are held in free and fair manner. He also said that Pakistan was put on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list last month on the issue of terror financing.

The leader of the Opposition in the Senate and leading member of Pakistan Peoples’ Party,  Sherry Rehman, warned that allowing banned organisations to contest the elections will lead to bringing them into the mainstream.

Former Senate chairman and PPP leader Raza Rabbani attacked the ECP for its alleged silence over irregularities in the run-up to the polls and asked why banned groups were allowed to participate in the elections. Rabbani also spoke about restrictions being placed on the media.

The ECP had said that it was ready to hold elections in free and fair manner.