KARACHI, Nov 3: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday approved the schedule for preparation of electoral rolls-2002 and also finalized various matters pertaining to electoral rolls.

The approval was given at a meeting, presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Justice (Retd) Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry, and attended by provincial election commissioners and some other high officials.

The CEC ordered preparation of error-free electoral rolls and asked the officials to ensure that no foreign national is enrolled as a voter.

He said the registration staff should remain vigilant about foreign nationals, who might have obtained even Pakistani passports and national identity cards. However, he said all eligible Pakistanis must appear on the electoral rolls being prepared afresh as a nation-wide door-to-door enumeration begins on Jan 1.

Justice (Retd) Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry also ordered that timely disbursement of wages be ensured to the staff hired for enumeration.

In the past, he said, there were some complaints regarding non-payment to the enumeration staff.

The secretary of the election commission briefed the meeting about the steps taken for the preparation of fresh electoral rolls, which would include all eligible persons of 21 years of age on Jan 1.

The joint secretary (budget) informed the meeting that he had been assured by the finance ministry that work on electoral rolls would not be hampered due to any financial constraints. The meeting later approved the schedule for preparation of electoral rolls for 2002.—PPI