Counting interrupted: No votes verified

Apart from a few areas, the offices of assistant registration officers remained closed.

KARACHI:

The voter verification process came to a halt on Friday as most of the election commission workers were unable to go in the field.

Apart from a few areas, the offices of assistant registration officers - where the enumerators begin their day- remained closed. “I live in the same area that has been assigned to me for voter verification but the office was closed,” said an enumerator from PECHS. He collects a shoulder bag, forms and maps provided by the election commission every day when he starts work.

Three supervisors and around 14 enumerators are are working in this area, but no one turned him, he added

The workers who were assigned district south were only seen verifying the electoral rolls in Lyari, even though Saddar, Mehmoodabad, Clifton cantonment, and Defence are also part of their jurisdiction, according to the election commissioner for district South, Wasim Jafferi.

Given the recent strikes, enumerators are reluctant to work. “It will be difficult for us to meet the February 1 deadline in this situation,” he said. The voters’ verification process began on January 10. An official admitted that they might have to ask the authorities extend the deadline.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2013.

 

Apart from a few areas, the offices of assistant registration officers - where the enumerators begin their day- remained closed.