ISLAMABAD, March 14: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Irshad Hasan Khan on Thursday observed that the Election Commission of Pakistan was preparing the electoral rolls strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Rolls Act 1974.

Similarly, the delimitation of constituencies was being made in accordance with the principles in section 9 of the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974.

The observation were made when the CEC separately met PML (N) Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq and a three-member team of the Awami National Party, which comprised Qazi Muhammad Anwar, ANP deputy secretary-general; Hidayatullah Khan Chamkani, former speaker of the NWFP Assembly and Haji Muhammad Adeel, ANP secretary information.

An official announcement stated that Raja Zafarul Haq, during the meeting, welcomed the suggestion of the CEC that the polling agents nominated by the contesting candidates should be given training under the auspices of the Election Commission (EC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Haq took round of the control room, where he was briefed on the mechanism of the delimitation process.

PML chief, recording his impressions, said the working of the commission was according to the law, and hoped that the administration would not interfere in the delicate work of the EC. “This is the only way to ensure holding of fair and transparent elections,” he added.

The ANP delegation conveyed to the CEC that the central leadership of the party would extend full cooperation to the him in his efforts to hold fair and independent elections.

The team suggested that union councils should not be made basis for delimitation of constituencies because of the variations in their formulations and population. The Patwar Circles and Qanungo Halqas provided the sound basis for formulating constituencies in the rural areas, it also proposed.

In return, the CEC assured them that the commission would consider these proposals.