Imran files petition against electoral rolls
Seeks review of the electoral process, says bogus votes make present assemblies dubious.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking a revision of electoral rolls and a reform of the electoral process.
In a press conference held to explain the details of the petition filed in the Supreme Court, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the recent revelation by the Election Commission that almost 44 per cent of registered voters are bogus votes made the status of the present assemblies and the government dubious.
Khan said that to save Pakistan from a bloody revolution or complete chaos, it is essential that the right of franchise be given to the people of Pakistan so that the change that the people of Pakistan are yearning for can be achieved peacefully and through the ballot box.
A government formed on bogus votes does not represent the people of Pakistan and nor can it be expected to protect the vital interests of the citizens. He alleged that a political mafia is ruling Pakistan that was elected through bogus votes.
He said the only hope for a democratic change in Pakistan rests around an independent election commission and new electoral lists.
The PTI Chairman said that the purpose of filing the election petition is to force the government and the Election Commission under the directives of the apex court to prepare fresh electoral rolls eliminating all bogus votes and introducing and incorporating the new eligible votes that can be verified from the database and record of NADRA.
He suggested preparation of electoral roll in a manner that should include the name of a voter in such electoral area wherein his address mentioned on the CNIC of the voter exists.
There is need to introduce electronic voting machine for the use of voters in the future general elections including the photographs of the voters in electoral rolls in the future elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2011.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking a revision of electoral rolls and a reform of the electoral process.
In a press conference held to explain the details of the petition filed in the Supreme Court, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the recent revelation by the Election Commission that almost 44 per cent of registered voters are bogus votes made the status of the present assemblies and the government dubious.
Khan said that to save Pakistan from a bloody revolution or complete chaos, it is essential that the right of franchise be given to the people of Pakistan so that the change that the people of Pakistan are yearning for can be achieved peacefully and through the ballot box.
A government formed on bogus votes does not represent the people of Pakistan and nor can it be expected to protect the vital interests of the citizens. He alleged that a political mafia is ruling Pakistan that was elected through bogus votes.
He said the only hope for a democratic change in Pakistan rests around an independent election commission and new electoral lists.
The PTI Chairman said that the purpose of filing the election petition is to force the government and the Election Commission under the directives of the apex court to prepare fresh electoral rolls eliminating all bogus votes and introducing and incorporating the new eligible votes that can be verified from the database and record of NADRA.
He suggested preparation of electoral roll in a manner that should include the name of a voter in such electoral area wherein his address mentioned on the CNIC of the voter exists.
There is need to introduce electronic voting machine for the use of voters in the future general elections including the photographs of the voters in electoral rolls in the future elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2011.