ISLAMABAD, April 28: Referendum staff have been instructed to allow only those people carrying original documents, as have been mentioned in the Referendum Order, to cast their votes, the chief election commissioner (CEC) said.

In an order issued to all presiding officers, the CEC emphasized that only voters carrying original documents— passports, service cards, Aqama, driving licence and certificate from the head of educational institution, in case of student elector— should be allowed to cast their votes.

“ With a view to improve the accuracy and authenticity of participation of all eligible voters of the age of 18 years and above and to prevent fraud, the presiding officers must satisfy themselves as to the identity and age of the eligible voters on the basis of documents referred to in the Referendum Order,” said the press release.

The CEC also emphasized that the certificates issued by the educational institutions, Nazimeen or Naib Nazimeem or BPS-17 and other higher grade officers must satisfy the conditions as have been approved by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He said every document must bear attested photograph of the entitled voters. Only original service card issued by the employer bearing the photograph of the employee should be accepted.

Gazetted government officers should issue certificates with attested photographs to only those persons who are personally known to them, it said. It should be specifically stated in the certificate that the age of the entitled voter is 18 years or above on April 30, and is personally known to the government officers issuing the certificate, it added.

Similarly, the Nazimeen or Naib Nazimeen should issue certificates to only those persons, who reside in their union councils and who are personally known to them. The age and the fact that the voter is personally known to the Nazim and Naib Nazim should be specially mentioned in the certificates, it added.