Fakhruddin G Ebrahim concerned over Karachi's erroneous voter list

Chief election commissioner Ebrahim orders installation of CCTV at 'sensitive' polling stations.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim expressed concern over errors in the list of voters from Karachi and ordered installation of CCTV at “sensitive” polling stations, Express News reported Tuesday.

Heading a meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Ebrahim said that the errors in the voters list should be corrected. He added that over one million youth have become eligible to vote and their details are currently being verified by NADRA.

Secretary Election Commission Ishtiak Ahmed Khan later told reporters that despite the errors, the Commission has expressed full confidence in the process of preparing electoral rolls. "It was a fair and transparent process. Lists are there on display centers since months and the Commission is also prepared to present solid evidence in cases before the Court."

Explaining about complaints of pre-poll rigging, he said, since the elections have not yet been announced, the Commission cannot take any action on such complaints. However, he added that the Commission is taking note of all complaints and is monitoring the situation.

The information technology department of the ECP informed during its briefing that installing CCTVs at all polling stations was not practically possible.

The session was called to discuss preparations for the upcoming general elections and discuss the fate of 43 members of Punjab Assembly on account of dual citizenship submitted by former Ambassador Asif Ezdi.

In addition, dual nationality case of Donia Aziz from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Arif Aziz Sheikh from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was discussed by the commission.

The CEC will also be visiting four provinces as part of preparations to hold general elections while meetings will also beheld with stakeholders at the Commission.

The Secretary informed that a unified electoral reforms package is being prepared and it will be passed from the Parliament in one go to make the election laws more effective and meaningful.

Cats and tigers

The ECP also accepted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) request for removal of the ‘cat’ as an election symbol of any party or candidate as it may be confused with the ‘tiger’ emblem of the party.

The ‘cat’ symbol was allocated to an independent candidate in the Vehari constituency.

19 new parties registered

The ECP on Tuesday approved the registration of 19 new political parties. The addition of these parties raises the total number of registered political parties to 216.

However, Ebrahim admitted to a problem the latest registrations posed. For the 216 parties, only 171 election symbols were available to choose from.

Delimitation of constituencies  in Sindh

On the delimitation of constituencies in Karachi, Ishtiak Khan said that the first step in this regard has to be taken by the Sindh government through its revenue department.

He lamented that no action has been taken so far by the provincial government thus far, although the ECP is fully prepared for delimitation in Karachi.

Khan added that the decision of the Supreme Court and various meetings have been held to set parameters as he described it essential to also take political parties into confidence.