BRIEFING ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS, 2008 TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESS AND THE MEDIA
…………….. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad,
Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan
Islamabad, the 22nd January, 2008.- Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, while giving briefing to the representatives of the Press and the Media said that under the current geo-political scenario in the country, the forthcoming General Elections are of utmost importance not only for Pakistan but also have vital significance for the entire World. As soon as the date for the conduct of Polls was announced by the President of Pakistan as the 8th January, 2008, the Election Commission of Pakistan issued on the 20th November, 2007, the Schedule for the conduct of General Elections on that date. However, due to the sad demise of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on 27th December, 2007 and thereafter, riots and disturbances all over the country, especially in the Province of Sindh, the Election Commission of Pakistan decided that the date of Poll may be postponed and rescheduled the date of Polls as the 18th February, 2008.
2. In Sindh Province, 11 Districts were adversely affected which are Ghotki, Kamber Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Naushero Feroze, Khairpur, Badin, Jamshoro, Dadu, Larkana and Thatta. The record of 15 National Assembly constituencies and 33 Provincial Assembly Constituencies of Sindh Province were completely burnt which included Ballot Boxes, Voting Screens, Electoral Rolls, Nomination Forms and election related material. The election material to be supplied to the affected constituencies of the districts has been procured and replenished, wherever required so much so that all necessary arrangements have been made for the smooth Conduct of Polls on 18th February, 2008.
3. The Secretary, Election Commission further said that as per Schedule, the filing of Nomination Papers with the Returning Officers by the candidates commenced on 21st November, 2007 and the process of Scrutiny, Filing and Disposal of Appeals was completed by the 16th December, 2007 when the List of Contesting Candidates with symbols allotted to them was published by the Returning Officers. After scrutiny and withdrawal of Nominations there are 2,252 contesting candidates for National Assembly in the field whereas, for the Provincial Assemblies there remain 5,083 contesting candidates to contest the Elections, 2008. In all 7,335 candidates are contesting the National and Provincial Assemblies Elections.
4. Thereafter, the process of Printing of Ballot Papers commenced in the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Presses at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore as well as in the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Press, Karachi, which has been completed well in time and the Printed Ballot Papers are ready for despatch to the Districts.
5. Kanwar Dilshad informed that the Election Commission has appointed 125 District Returning Officers who are mostly District & Sessions Judges, 484 Returning Officers who are also mostly from the Judiciary and 1,027 Assistant Returning Officers to Conduct the Elections.
6. As regards the Draft Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates for General Elections, 2008, it was prepared in consultation with the Political Parties and printed copies have been provided to all concerned. Further, in order to conduct Free and Fair Elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan has issued the following Directives :
(i) Banning use of State resources and misuse of official position by the Executive Authorities in the Federation and in the Provinces as well as by the Zila, Tehsil, Town and Nazims.
(ii) Banning transfers/postings of Civil Servants till the completion of the process of forthcoming General Election.
(iii) Directing Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to monitor the operations of all TV Channels including State-owned TV (PTV) to ensure that coverage of the Political Parties is fair, unbiased and balanced.
7. The Secretary went on to say that in order to strengthen the democratic electoral system, electoral commodities of international standard are being used for the first time, during the forthcoming General Elections. For this purpose, four Lac thirty thousands (4,30,000) Transparent Ballot Boxes with Plastic Seals and three lacs (3,00,000) Portable Voting Screens have been imported and supplied to the field offices for use, during the forthcoming General Elections in collaboration with the USAID. Comprehensive Training has been imparted to 350 thousand Polling Officials under the supervision of International experts. Besides, Orientation Programmes have been arranged for the District Returning Officers and Returning Officers at the Provincial Headquarters under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner and guidance the learned Members of the Election Commission.
8. Separate Manuals have been prepared in sufficient quantity providing guidelines for smooth and efficient conduct of elections for the facility of District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers. For the first time, a Manual for the Guidance of Polling Agents to be appointed by the political parties and the independent candidates, has been prepared and two million copies have been supplied to all concerned. A Brief Manual for National and International Observers has also been published and is being supplied to the Observers for their guidance.
9. Moreover, an extensive public awareness campaign has been launched by the Election Commission of Pakistan to inform the electors about the importance of vote and how to exercise it, their right and responsibilities and the importance of General Elections through an Education Programme on the Print and Electronic media.
10. The Secretary, Election Commission further said that a Complaint Cell, headed by a Joint Secretary has been established at the ECP Secretariat, Islamabad as well as in the offices of the Provincial Election Commissioners, under their supervision to take immediate necessary action under the law, on the pre-election and post-election complaints as well as on the polling day so that the timely redressal of grievances could be ensured.
11. Special arrangements have been made for International Observers, in collaboration with Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to enable them to observe the proceedings of the upcoming General Elections. Accreditation Cards are being issued to all the National as well as International Observers by the Election Commission for visiting the Polling Stations on the Polling Day. They are being provided Briefing Material relating to General Elections. Special arrangements have also been made for the briefing of the International Observers at the ECP Headquarters. However, their security is to be ensured by the Ministry of Interior.
12. The Polling Scheme has always been one of the important pre-requisites for Conduct of Elections, which has been finalized. The main features of the Polling Scheme are :
a) Establishment of Polling Stations and ;
b) Appointment of Polling Personnel and their Training.
In all, 64,176 Polling Stations with 1-lac 70-thousand 174 Polling Booths have been established all over the country. For the purpose, 5-lac 72-thousand Polling Personnel have been appointed by the concerned Returning Officers.
13. The Election Commission of Pakistan hosted on the Website of the ECP the Computerized Electoral Rolls for the facility of the Political Parties, Contesting Candidates and general public. In addition, the constituency-wise DVDs have also been prepared and supplied free of cost to them for the first time in the electoral history of Pakistan. These DVDs are also available in the ECP Secretariat, Islamabad, in the offices of Provincial Election Commissioners of their respective Provinces and in the offices of Assistant Election Commissioners for their respective districts. The hosting of computerized Electoral Rolls of the ECP Website has been observed to be well-developed so as to meet the International Standards and has been praised by the users in Pakistan as well as overseas Pakistanis.
14. The Secretary, Election Commission concluded that the Election Commission of Pakistan is committed to hold free, fair, impartial, transparent and credible Elections in a peaceful atmosphere.