Ministers Azam Swati and Fawad Ch have bought three weeks to file their replies to a notice by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as they accused the polls supervisory body of bribery and being bais, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday. 

Railways Minister Azam Swati, during a Senate committee meeting, had accused the ECP of taking bribes to rig elections, saying: "Such institutions should be set on fire."

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had accused the chief election commissioner (CEC) of acting as a “mouthpiece for the opposition parties”.

The ECP issued notices to the government reps and ask them to provide the body with evidence to substantiate their allegations. According to sources, the ECP gave the ministers three weeks to submit their replies.

The insiders said, the commission will take to task the ministers under the Election Act if they fail to prove their allegation. The ministers may face contempt, the commission sources said.

The government reps' remarks come at a time when it has geared up its e-voting drive.  The row between the government and ECP is being dubbed as a blow to bring in an e-voting system.