February 23, 2007	Friday	Safar 5, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: A number of major political parties Thursday called for continuing with the voters’ registration process till the formal announcement of next general elections.

The parties also demanded that the process be made simple and inclusive, and expressing concern that millions of eligible voters had been left out of the computerised electoral lists.

The demands were made by leaders, legislators and activists of all mainstream parties including the Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i- Islami, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party at a multi-party roundtable, arranged by the Centre for Civic Education Pakistan and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

They publicly announced to join forces to make sure that nobody was deprived of their basic democratic right.

The parties called to abolish fee of computerised national identity cards, so that those who could not afford, were not disfranchised.

Complete set of recommendations on voters’ registration will be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The parties were of the view that the ECP should proactively consult them and listen to their genuine concerns besides disseminating simple, clear and timely information about the computerisation of electoral rolls.

The political leaders asked the commission to use all modern and traditional means of communication.

They were also unanimous on doing away with the routine lengthy forms prescribed for claims, objections, notices, hearing, etc.

The opposition parties did not miss the opportunity to express their reservations about the possibility of free and fair elections under present circumstances.

But focusing on the issue of electoral lists, they called for special efforts to ensure that female staff was available to facilitate eligible women voters and the voter lists were displayed at easily accessible places.

The display centres should remain open during the evening so that working people can visit them after duty hours.

PML-N Central Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal said people of the country wanted transparent electoral process and not transparent ballot boxes.

He castigated President Pervez Musharraf for delivering speeches at public meetings and asking electorates to vote for the “King’s party”.

Senator Latif Khosa of PPP said under the Electoral Roll Act-1974, new voting lists could only be compiled at the time of census.

“The election commission can update the electoral rolls prepared in 2002 but cannot altogether change the electoral rolls when no census is being carried out”, he stressed.

He alleged that the number of eligible voters had gone down under a plan to marginalise the political opponents.

Senator Abdul Qadir Khanzada said an independent Election Commission was a prerequisite to make the results of the upcoming polls credible. He said there were many flaws in the electoral rolls that had to be removed.

Farid Ahmad Paracha of MMA said transparent polls in the country were not possible in the presence of a president in uniform.

Haji Mohammad Adeel of ANP was of the view that photograph on the national identity cards of women should be made mandatory to avert the possibility of their misuse during polling.