Expressing serious concern over the verification of electoral rolls Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) senior leader and General Secretary of the Sindh Chapter Taj Haider says that the PPP does not approve of the current electoral rolls.
In a letter written to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, Haider demanded that the electoral rolls of 1998 be restored.
He also stressed upon the need to include the names of new voters along with their present addresses instead of their permanent addresses and their fresh pictures.
The PPP leader, however, congratulated the newly appointed ECP, saying his competence and integrity is exemplary and he can make the coming elections most authentic leaving no room for doubts.
He added that the work done by the Election Commission has had great shortcomings. These shortcomings and loopholes have made fair elections almost an impossible task.
Referring to the recent electoral rolls Taj Haider said that a space has already been created for anti-democratic forces to rig the next elections and manipulate the results. But he added that PPP was not merely going to confine itself to pointing out mistakes. Instead they will propose possible solutions to other political parties.
In his nine-page letter Haider praised the fact the National Database and Registration Authority is using the reliable electronic data in the National Identity Cards (NIC). Apart from the NICs the electronic data is also being used in national programmes like the Benazir Income Support Programme and Watan Cards.
Population census:
He said that when Benazir Bhutto was martyred in 2007 the country was in the grip of national elections, the Statistics Division of the Government of Pakistan undertook a ‘secret’ exercise to manipulate population demarcations (charges/blocks/circles) with ulterior political motives.
He said that when the actual house counting exercise started there was a host of complaints. “Home numbers were put even on shops and electric motor pump cabins in buildings, while large areas were simply not visited by the enumerators. Referring to the directives issued by the Sindh CM he said, “Shah Sahib instructed the officials of census that 1998 demarcations of blocks and circles should be followed, but all went in vain.
Taj Haider noted that the office of the provincial Census Commissioner in its report to the federal government raised serious objections over the exercise they had conducted and stopped the next phase of population count.
“This is a rejected house count exercise from which the Election Commission chose to make the electoral rolls and asked NADRA to give CNIC numbers against the highly doubtful House Count numbers,” he said.
Suggesting the remedies he said that the ruling party and other likeminded parties wanted to restore the 1998 demarcations of charges, blocks and circles.
He also suggested having photo of the voter in the electoral rolls.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have brought about a revolution in the electoral process. They are cost effective, simple to use, consume much less time per voter and make occupation of polling stations by force or bogus voting ineffective. He demanded the same technology in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (39)
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Pakistan Peoples Party is great.
PMLN is the party who are supporting free and fair election all the time. Infact the name of Fakhruddin G Ibrahim was also nominated by PMLN. PMLN is not in fear with the upcoming election infact they are of the view to conduct the new election as early as possible.Time will tell you the power of people toward this party. Inshallah PMLN will get the majority seats in the upcoming election.
What a pity that the ruling click/mafia people, who ruled Pakistan alternatively, either under PPP sympathy votes or the establishment-baked various PMLs, all these so-called rulers/leaders of God-gifted Pakistan, excelled each other only in corruption and 'lootgasoot' of national wealth so that they became more rich and more resourceful than the state itself. Now the time has come to shunt-out these 'oldies',(white-haired politicians) the relics of the past unholy political life must be sent out of national life, through ballot box and the Pakistan-born new generation must exert its voting-power under joint electorate system. As such the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (R) Fakharuddin G. Ibraheem must ensure that the electoral/voters lists are prepared up-todate, which must include all young/ youthof 18 years of age and without any reference to ones cast, creed or religion. It is a historical fact that the people of Pakistan, whenever given the right to vote had always used their vote rightly and wisely but the elected leaders would fail them as they indulge in corruption and exploitation and easily derail themselves and mostly became anti-people and also bowed themselves before arrogant Mullah, about whom Alama Iqbal had said, 'kar-e-Mullah, fi Sabeelillah Fasad",--which conveys the meaning that the Mullah or the cleric, create disharmony and troubles in society, all this in the name of God.' The time has come to end all such unholy games of negative, nefarious immoral ways of politics. Enough is enough.
I think they should send a request to British Gorvernment to provide us voter lists used in 1937 elections.
By the way who will be putting software in those electronic machines which he is advocating. There is no doubt that they are scared of the new young generation, the young generation could google anything anymore and they know better what has PPP done for the them or their families except the height of corruption, just look at their leadership in Islamabad. I am from the old generation and I would say that nobody could hoodwink this new generation in Pakistan and they are the future of the country now. These oldies should snap out of it as their time is already up. Make room for the new comers.
He's not asking for the restoration of 1998 electoral rolls, people - he's not a madman. He's asking for the restoration of the '1998 demarcations of charges, blocks and circles' after giving 'fresh circle/block numbers to localities built after 1998'. This is because Musharraf had the demarcations changed to influence electoral boundaries in his favour. It's not a terribly unreasonable demand. In any case, Fakhruddin G Ebrahim is not an idiot.
A little calm, guys. Some comprehension and investigation before outrage might be in order.
TaJ Haider is very right in this regard. PPP always faced the music and right wing parties enjoyed the strong vote bank through fake polls. It is the Punjab where millions of fake votes were registered. PPP has very right to contradict the process because it is PPP that led efforts for the passage of the 20th Amendment has strengthened democracy and a precedent has been set for all to follow. The PPP government has continued its tradition of following a policy of reconciliation as the 18th and 19th amendments were also passed by parliament with full consensus. The unanimous passage of 18th, 19th and 20th amendments has restored a genuine parliamentary system in the country and has ensured more autonomy to the provinces. The 20th Amendment has set down a process to install a caretaker setup and hold free and fair elections in the future. Through this the PPP government has ensured free, fair and transparent elections in the country for future generations and an independent Election Commission. The 20th Amendment Bill 2012 has given the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sweeping powers by minimizing the government’s direct role in the appointment and removal of its members. Under the new mechanism of choosing caretakers, as envisaged by the amendment, both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly would hold a ‘consultation’ on the matter. This is another feather in the cap of Pakistan Peoples Party.
PPP fears of defeat that's y making drama.
..its not just that ... 44% Voters of that List [ 1998] were suspect , Mubashir lucman the anchor contested it in the Supreme court and court affirmed the finding ...
so Mr Taj Haider wants to have the luxury of using those 44% suspect votes in his control to manipulate the elections ...?
by the way I agree, current address and not the permanent address should be used for the voters .
PPP & PML (N) both are status quo and corrupt mafias. They will never accept young voters to vote for change...............both are losers ans their destiny is jail....otherwise they have to return looted money to the public.
Nice ploy. I am 100% sure PPP will never accept any election which they lose. It is an old tradition and this start of the ground work.
PPP and fair elections? You got to be kidding.. They want to rig elections again..
Great! Now we will see Noora Kushti again.... PML N will come up with same rant as well...
ridiculous!!
Thappa Thappa Thappey pe Thappa ! PPP and Nooners will never want a fair play... Pakistanis will show them their future soon
PPP loves bogus votes.
Here I would like to add that not only the electoral lists should be completed and up-dated but it should also be ensured that the National Elections are really national and genuinely general as held in 1970 under the Yahya Khan government without reference to voters' religion/faith, caste or creed. The new consensus based neutrally appointed Chief Election Commissioner, must ensure the genuine general/national elections as guaranteed by the Founding Father of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his historic August 11, 1947 speech in the Constituent/ National Assembly of Pakistan.
If the 1998 electoral (voters) lists are to be revived for the 2013 general elections, then the PPP must bring all those voters back to life who had left this world for the world hereafter during the last 15 years. If it can not do it, then these outdated, old relics of the past politics (with their legs hanging in graves), they must not block the young generation of Pakistan to express their 'will' as they desire to make Pakistan as dreamed by the Quaid-e-Azam.
Although the argument to have voting based on 1998 voter list is completely unacceptable. But folks you need to consider the suggestion of Electronic Voting system. I am sure there will not be an issue of cost as UN and other countries do pay for elections in developing countries.
Also I think PTI need to exert pressure for army personnel on each and every poling station. Weapons are very common in every part of country and ill minded contestants will use this tool to win by force as it has happened before as well. Presence of a single army soldier will prevent such cases.
electoral rolls of 1998 - lol are you kidding me ! Damn these old boys! PPP days are over
He has a point, the democratic process of elections has been so badly abused over the years that it has come down to the party which can manipulate the process to its advantage will win and the will of the people which this process is supposed to establish becomes redundant. If the electoral rolls are being contested at this stage it is fair to assume that a coming election would be a mirror image of the past elections and the people will again be disappointed.
Insane !!
I bet some will see the Hand of PTI and Imran Khan behind this too, and will start abusing Imran Khan...
wait for it...
3...2...1...
I am a PML-N supporter and I say that electoral rolls should include everyone with CNIC cards on election day.
I thought Taj Haider is a reasonable PPP worker, period.
Apart from the NICs the electronic data is also being used in national programmes like the Benazir Income Support Programme and Watan Cards.
Sounds like PPP is the one doing the rigging as usual....
Haha..and here you go!
fear of pti youth
Restore the 1998 rolls? What about the Pakistani citizens who have become eligible to vote since then? What about removing the people who have passed away or abandoned their citizenship since then?
This makes no sense at all except perhaps if the PPP only feels insecure that its going to get bold out in this election. Instead of crying about the electiona being prepared to be rigged, Mr Taj should take a moment to self reflect on the issues his party has not been able to solve: Electricity crisis Gas Shortage Looming illiteracy Security situation in Pakistani cities Food inflation Currency devalution Balance of payment crisis Corruption Failure of state owned entities such as pia wapda steel mill pso railways etc
If he still demanding return of 1998 lists, we the people demand restoration of the economic indicators first to those of 1998
Take this issue to Supreme Court. PPP wants to just create issues to stay in power
what a stupid argument of restoring 1998 electoral lists.... down with PPP....
ahem.. ahem... how about we just let PPP win unoppposed?
they are afraid :D
PPP and PMLN will do their best to stop young voters to vote as these two parties know if young voters were allowed to vote, both parties will be defeated in next election
Excellent,much the best and impressive act/move and so that PPP could get once again as usual the bogus votes and majority of seats in the national assembly to form/make the next government......