Sources in NADRA told The Express Tribune that 6.92 million forms have been printed. PHOTO: FILE
The process of re-verification of voters’ list in Karachi will start from Wednesday (today) and is scheduled to be completed in 18 days, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said.
There were apprehensions that the process might face more delays since the verification forms to be used to verify every voter were stuck at Islamabad airport due to continuous flight delays.
The re-verification process, which was initially planned to start on January 5, was previously delayed after election commission authorities decided on December 27 to include some more security features in the forms used for the verification process.
However, the forms were finally airlifted on Tuesday evening after the defence secretary intervened, sources said.
When contacted, Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Tariq Malik confirmed that the reprinting of the electoral lists was complete, adding: “I am glad that we completed our deliverable [process] well before the deadline of January 10”.
NADRA sources said the process of printing the forms and handing them over to courier services was completed by January 6, but they remained at Islamabad airport till Malik requested the defence and cabinet secretaries to help airlift them in time.
A cargo plane hired by a courier company was not allowed to land at Islamabad airport due to dense fog.
Sources in NADRA, which was tasked to design and print the forms, told The Express Tribune that 6.92 million forms have been printed.
The voters list compiled and published last year included 6.8 million registered voters in Karachi. The increase is due to 59,111 fresh Computerised National Identity Cards issued between September 2012 and December 2012 to residents of Karachi.
Army to limit role to security
Meanwhile, to keep itself away from any possible controversy, the Pakistan Army has made it clear that its personnel would be responsible only for the security of civilian and election officials and the voters’ verification process in Karachi would be the sole responsibility of election authorities.
Without mentioning the exact number of troops, defence officials said army troops, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and police will be deployed in the city from Wednesday (today) until the verification process in five districts of Karachi is completed.
Quoting a notification, ministry of defence officials claimed the army’s role will be limited to security only. Army and all forces under its command will only be responsible to provide a secure environment to [the] Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) staff. Conduct of electoral rolls verification will be [the] sole responsibility of ECP, officials quoted the notification as saying.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2013.
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Glad to read hat at last verification of voters in Karachi is going to commence. This may restrict to some extent casting of fake votes, however I would like to see some measures taken by ECP to allow Karachi voters to cast their votes without any influenceofcertain Mafia(s)