Testing 1,2,3: K-P asks ECP for biometric system in local govt polls

New mechanism aimed at ensuring greater transparency.

PESHAWAR: The government has approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to explore the possibility of using a biometric system in local government (LG) polls, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for LG and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan.

Khan was speaking at Peshawar Press Club about preparations made so far in the province for LG elections. The K-P government has written two letters to the ECP about using biometric identification in polls to ensure greater transparency and to eliminate chances of rigging, shared Khan.



As yet, the Chief Election Commissioner has appreciated the K-P government’s initiative and has directed National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to take it up as a pilot project in upcoming LG polls. Khan added NADRA will now brief the provincial government on the subject.

Discussing the reach of The LG Act 2013, Khan said extending the law to seven more districts, including Chitral, Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Shangla, Buner, Malakand and some areas of Kohistan, requires the approval of the president under Article 247. These areas fall under the Provincially Administrated Tribal Areas, and the K-P government initiated a summary on November 7 to get the presidential nod.

Poll prep

K-P Local Councils Rules 2013 are now in the process of print and online publication for public scrutiny, after passing through procedural requirements, stated Khan.

The delimitation process was launched on December 1 and preliminary lists of delimitation were published on December 12. Deputy commissioners across the province have been appointed as delimitation officers while commissioners have been designated as the divisional appellate authority.

The process should be completed on January 15, claimed the LG minister.

If directed by the ECP, the government printing press in Peshawar can print unclassified material for elections, and human resource will be provided by provincial and federal government departments in K-P.

Responding to a question, Khan said polls were likely to be held between mid-March and early April. About Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl challenging the LG law court, Khan responded the government will follow the court’s orders.

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