MOHTARMA BENAZIR BHUTTO INFORMED BY THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE PROCEDURE OF PREPARATION OF COMPUTERIZED ELECTORAL ROLLS
Islamabad, the 14th July, 2007.- The Spokesman of the Election Commission of Pakistan has informed that, in reply to the concerns raised by the Chairperson of Pakistan People Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, regarding preparation of Computerized Electoral Rolls, 2006-07, a detailed reply has been sent to her on behalf of the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan.
2. It has been clarified in the letter, addressed to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, that the Draft Computerized Electoral Rolls have been prepared strictly in accordance with the relevant provisions of law/rules, as available in the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974 and the Electoral Rolls Rules, 1974 which expressly provide that the electoral roll shall contain the number of National Identity Card of each voter. She has been informed that the Process of preparation of Computerized Electoral Rolls consists of three phases. The first phase had commenced throughout the country with door-to-door Enumeration and the names of only those voters have been entered, who possessed NIC or CNIC, as in the face of the voting procedure contained in Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 it is pointless to enter the names of those persons in the electoral rolls who do not possess old or new identity card. The second phase commenced with the Draft Publication of Computerized Electoral Rolls for inviting Claims (for inclusion), Objections (for deletion), Applications (for corrections). At present, the Display Process is in full swing at more than 45000 Display Centers throughout the country, so as to enable the eligible voters to file Claims/Objections/Applications for Corrections within the stipulated period of 21 days, which came to an end on the 3rd July, 2007. Thereafter, the period for filing of claims, objections and applications for corrections has been extended for 15 days in pursuance of Ordinance, dated the 3rd July, 2007.
3. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has been informed in detail that the 3rd Phase will commence with the Final Publication of Computerized Electoral Rolls in September, 2007, which will continue till announcement of the Schedule for forth-coming General Elections. During that phase the eligible persons whose names could not be enrolled as voters during the 2nd Phase of Enrolment Process will have the opportunity provided under Section 18 of the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974 to get their names enrolled in the Electoral Rolls by filing application on simple paper giving particulars with number of National Identity Card along with a copy thereof to the Registration Officer concerned, namely, Assistant Election Commissioner/Deputy Election Commissioner posted in the districts. As for the proposal that the voter’s list may be placed on the Website, necessary measures are being taken to provide this facility to the general public in near future. As regards, the suggestion that the claims, objections, corrections of voters particulars may be allowed to be made on line through ECP Webpage, necessary amendment/provision will have to be made by the law makers.
4. In the letter, addressed to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner has informed her that in order to facilitate the eligible persons to have their names enrolled, all the Revising Authorities have been directed to accept the recommendations made by Registration Officials. Accordingly all such persons filing claims for addition of their names and applications for corrections against the entries of their names will not have to appear before the Revising Authorities for the purpose.
5. It has further been clarified that the difference of 20 Million voters in the Electoral Rolls prepared in 2002 and the Computerized Electoral Rolls, 2006-07 is for the reason that the present Electoral Rolls have been prepared containing names of only those eligible persons who are in possession of NIC or CNIC issued by NADRA. Whereas in the existing electoral rolls innumerable columns meant for entering the number of identity cards are blank. It has also been decided that during the third Phase special arrangements will be made for enrolment of eligible voters having NIC or CNIC belonging to the areas affected by the recent rains and mobile teams will be deputed to do the needful on the spot.