General polls: ECP to facilitate displaced persons’ camps

PESHAWAR:

On Peshawar High Court (PHC) orders, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has vowed to ensure the right of vote to the displaced tribesmen at internally-displaced persons (IDP) camps.

This massage was conveyed by Abdul Rehman, a representative of the election commission’s provincial chapter to a PHC division bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Irshad Qaisar.

The bench, while hearing a suo motu notice taken upon shortage of facilities at Jalozai IDP camp, was informed that since court has issued orders to give the tribesmen right of vote, the ECP is all set to arrange polls adding federal government has been asked to amend law if deemed necessary.

The bench observed that changing location due to war and casting vote at another location is not against the law asking upon the chief election commission of Pakistan to look into the matter.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) informed the bench that Fata secretariat, provincial and federal governments, Fata and provincial disaster management authorities have been putting their efforts to provide maximum facilities of IDPs living at Jalozai camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2013.