December 26, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 15, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Dec 25: Around 45,000 prisoners languishing in 32 jails of Punjab have applied for the postal ballot facility in the upcoming general election, Dawn has leant.

The prisoners, including women, would be provided the facility after their applications are accepted by the authorities concerned, the sources said.

When contacted, Inspector-General Prisons Punjab Sarfraz Ahmed Mufti told Dawn that around 45,000 prisoners had applied for the postal ballot facility and their applications had been sent to their respective constituencies.

The IG prisons said: “After having received the ballot papers, the prisoners would be given the facility to cast their votes in the presence of the jail superintendent concerned.”

Mr Mufti said the postal ballot facility would be provided to them in accordance with the procedure. “This facility would be given to both men and women prisoners,” he added.

He said after getting the vote cast, the ballot paper would be sent to the returning officer of the voter’s constituency. He, however, said there were many prisoners who had no national identity cards.

According to the Adiala Jail authorities, in line with the instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the inspector-general prisons, the applications of around 5,400 prisoners housed in the jail had been sent to the relevant returning officers.

However, the postal ballot papers are yet to be received, they said.