Dual nationality crisis: ECP to review fresh oath conundrum
Will discuss parliament’s refusal to seek affidavits from MPs.
LAHORE:
Scrambling to resolve a brewing crisis, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to meet next week to review parliament’s refusal to get fresh declarations from lawmakers stating they are not dual nationals.
On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim told journalists in Lahore that the commission will review the matter on October 9.
On September 20, the Supreme Court had asked the ECP to get fresh oaths from every parliamentarian as well as members of provincial assemblies after it disqualified 11 of them for holding dual nationality.
The CEC also expressed his displeasure over the lack of interest from political parties in election matters. Not a single party has approached the ECP for a copy of the newly prepared computerised electoral rolls, he said.
Ebrahim said the voter lists were still open for changes, and those whose names have been left out could still get themselves registered. “If there is any anomaly in the data of any voter, now is the time to get it rectified,” he added.
According to the CEC, the situation in Balochistan was improving and that he hoped the elections would also be held in the province. He said all political parties wanted a “political process” in the province.
Ebrahim said that efforts were also being made for electronic voting.
To a question, he said that cases involving fake degrees of lawmakers were being referred to session judges.
Earlier in the day, during a visit to the Punjab election commissioner’s office, the CEC was given a briefing on preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
According to the media office of the provincial commissioner, Ebrahim was briefed about the total population of Punjab, as well as its administrative and census units. He was told that there are more than 73,000 census blocks in Punjab.
In 2002, the number of registered voters in the province was 41.5million – however it has increased to around 48.91 million in 2012, a press release issued by the Punjab election commissioner media office stated.
The CEC was told that the voter verification process would be completed by November 25, 2012.
Ebrahim also emphasised the participation of all stakeholders in the election process. He said electoral rolls were the primary documents which ensured fairness of election. Hence, he added, political parties should educate their workers to get more people registered as voters.
The CEC was informed that due to a 3.76 million increase in the number of voters in Punjab, and in compliance with Supreme Court orders, almost 3,000 more polling stations have been proposed. Hence, the total number will tentatively increase to 41,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
Scrambling to resolve a brewing crisis, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to meet next week to review parliament’s refusal to get fresh declarations from lawmakers stating they are not dual nationals.
On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim told journalists in Lahore that the commission will review the matter on October 9.
On September 20, the Supreme Court had asked the ECP to get fresh oaths from every parliamentarian as well as members of provincial assemblies after it disqualified 11 of them for holding dual nationality.
The CEC also expressed his displeasure over the lack of interest from political parties in election matters. Not a single party has approached the ECP for a copy of the newly prepared computerised electoral rolls, he said.
Ebrahim said the voter lists were still open for changes, and those whose names have been left out could still get themselves registered. “If there is any anomaly in the data of any voter, now is the time to get it rectified,” he added.
According to the CEC, the situation in Balochistan was improving and that he hoped the elections would also be held in the province. He said all political parties wanted a “political process” in the province.
Ebrahim said that efforts were also being made for electronic voting.
To a question, he said that cases involving fake degrees of lawmakers were being referred to session judges.
Earlier in the day, during a visit to the Punjab election commissioner’s office, the CEC was given a briefing on preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
According to the media office of the provincial commissioner, Ebrahim was briefed about the total population of Punjab, as well as its administrative and census units. He was told that there are more than 73,000 census blocks in Punjab.
In 2002, the number of registered voters in the province was 41.5million – however it has increased to around 48.91 million in 2012, a press release issued by the Punjab election commissioner media office stated.
The CEC was told that the voter verification process would be completed by November 25, 2012.
Ebrahim also emphasised the participation of all stakeholders in the election process. He said electoral rolls were the primary documents which ensured fairness of election. Hence, he added, political parties should educate their workers to get more people registered as voters.
The CEC was informed that due to a 3.76 million increase in the number of voters in Punjab, and in compliance with Supreme Court orders, almost 3,000 more polling stations have been proposed. Hence, the total number will tentatively increase to 41,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.