Polls preparation: MQM insists voter verification should be nationwide

Restricting voter verification to Karachi increasing sense of deprivation among Karachi’s residents, says Raza...

KARACHI:

The process of voter verification should not just be restricted to Karachi, but should take place countrywide, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Raza Haroon said on Wednesday.

Haroon told The Express Tribune that the “MQM is a law-abiding party and respects and follows the Constitution, and we respect the Supreme Court.” He added, however, that “this is a good decision but by just restricting it to Karachi, this is increasing the sense of deprivation among Karachi’s residents.”

Explaining why he felt there was a need for voter verification across the country, he pointed to Tuesday’s by-elections. “It was shown on the media how the election commission’s Code of Conduct was violated and how the candidates made allegations of rigging and bogus voting against each other,” Haroon said.

The MQM leader said electoral lists should only be altered on the request of individual voters, not parties. “It is my right, and my vote, as a citizen. No political party should be able to say ‘put this one group of people in this constituency’”. People should have the right to vote where they want – whether it’s at their current address or their permanent one. Some people may choose to vote from their permanent address,” he said.

Haroon added, “... The Supreme Court has given the election commission the responsibility and said that, where they need – for their own security – they can call on the Frontier Corps and the army for protection. But the right remains with the election commission.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2012.