ECP tells off interior ministry for intruding in its affairs

Use of special imported paper with watermark approved.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has reprimanded the interior ministry for what it termed was interference in the election authority’s affairs.

The ECP deliberated on a letter sent by the interior ministry asking the commission to route all its correspondence with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) through the ministry.

NADRA, which falls under the interior ministry’s jurisdiction, has been actively engaged with the ECP in preparing new electoral rolls based on computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

“A letter received from the interior ministry secretary for routing all correspondence with NADRA through the ministry was considered in detail and the ECP termed it against its independence and autonomy,” said a handout issued after the meeting chaired by the chief election commissioner.

The constitution, it read, not only grants autonomy to the ECP but also binds all institutions to extend assistance to the commission for performing its duties.

To address the complaints of use of bogus ballot papers in the elections and to avoid the possibility of rigging in upcoming national, provincial and local government elections, the commission approved the proposal for using special imported paper with a watermark and non-market specifications for ballot papers. According to an ECP official, the specification will be changed with every new election.

It also approved the use of magnetised ink for obtaining a thumb impression by the presiding officer for casting a vote. The commission also decided to convene a meeting on September 30 to resolve the issue of entitlement of Kashmiris residing in Pakistan, for registration in the electoral rolls 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th,  2011.