Elections over: Voters’ lists unfrozen

ISLAMABAD:

The ECP has unfrozen voters lists’ across the country and restored clause 18 of electoral rules. Now new voters can be included and changes can be made in the lists.

The ECP had frozen electoral rolls following the announcement of elections on March 22.

According to clause 18 of The Electoral Rolls Rules, 1974, voters can ask the registration officer to correct any errors in the lists. Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan told The Express Tribune that in previous elections the ECP used to freeze the process of enrolment in electoral rolls from the first day of the election year.

However, after the computerisation of the electoral rolls, the ECP amended the rules and allowed additions and changes in lists till March 22.

“The ECP was waiting for the election process to be completed and with the polling time over in Karachi on Sunday, the general elections are accomplished, the lists were unfrozen,” he said.

The commission will freeze the electoral rolls again in the first week of June 2013 when the candidates will vacate extra seats and ECP will issue by-election schedule, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.