COMPUTERIZED NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS (CNIC) COMPULSORY FOR ENROLMENT AS VOTERS FOR FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS—CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF PAKISTAN
Islamabad, the 24th May, 2006.- Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Federal Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan has stated that the Chief Election Commissioner has decided to prepare an error-free and authentic fresh computerized electoral rolls in the country for the forthcoming General Elections. Necessary arrangements are being finalized and the process of enumeration is likely to commence in the second week of July, 2006.
2. Mr. Justice (R) Qazi Muhammad Farooq, Chief Election Commissioner has appointed 182 Registration Officers and 2238 Assistant Registration Officers throughout the country. About 25,000 Supervisors and 75,000 Enumerators are likely to be appointed in the next couple of weeks, who will be provided adequate training and they will be drawn mostly from the Education Department. The Secretary, Election Commission has further stated that the Election Commission has asked the Provincial Governments to issue instructions to all Heads of Educational Institutions to ensure that the staff appointed for enumeration work is available at the places of their posting during summer vacations enabling the Election Commission to commence field operation in the Month of July, 2006. Besides, Revising Authorities will also be appointed in due course from amongst the Judicial Officers.
3. Chief Election Commissioner has also advised general public to get their computerized national identity cards prepared well before time so that they are not deprived of their right of vote. The possession of CNICs is compulsory for registration as voters and for casting of votes during the polls.
4. It is a general trend that a large number of women folk especially from the interior of NWFP, Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab do not come forward to register as voters and cast their votes, which is their basic right. Political parties and the NGOs are required to come forward and motivate the persons particularly women, who are more than 18 years of age to get their CNICs prepared and register themselves as voters.