Elections Commission (EC) has passed not to authorize passes to RaajjeTV journalists for coverage of Local Council Elections 2017.

RaajjeTV Chief Operating Officer Hussain Fiyaz Moosa says that applications were sent in for 32 employees to register as observers. He adds that the rejected forms were submitted online as well. The forms submitted online were accepted only when the forms were physically stamped with the station’s stamp.

EC had confirmed that no passes had been issued to RaajjeTV.

‘We had tried to resolve the issue peacefully. But today we were informed by Elections Commission’s Secretary General that passes cannot be issued to RaajjeTV,’ Fiyaz said.

Fiyaz said EC was not able to tell why the forms were rejected, adding that this was concerning. He also said this was a bar on free and fair elections.