Ballot papers to be dispatched to concerned officials by Wednesday: DG ECP

Syed Sher Afgan says security measures are in place to ensure safe dispatch of ballot papers.

ISLAMABAD: Ballot papers for the upcoming general elections are to be delivered to all returning officers within the next 24 hours, the Director General of Election Commission Syed Sher Afgan told the Radio Pakistan on Tuesday.

The presiding officers will receive the ballot papers by Friday.

Afgan added that special security measures are being adopted and caution is being exercised to ensure the safe dispatch of the ballot papers.

The ECP official said that for the first time a photographed voters’ list is being introduced to facilitate fair and transparent elections. Presiding officers will be expected to match the photographs from a voters' Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to the photograph on the list.

In another first, the DG Election Commission said that so far 15 million voters have made use of the E-ticketing service which was launched on Monday to help inform voters about their polling stations.

Concerns of polling staff

Talking about concerns expressed by polling staff, Afgan said that teachers in Balochistan have expressed reservations about security risks affecting electioneering.

However, these concerns, Afgan said, have been addressed following consultation between provincial administration, the corps commander and the commission.