February 10, 2008	Sunday	Safar 02, 1429

PESHAWAR, Feb 9: Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq on Saturday said they had been trying to hold elections in South Waziristan and Swat on schedule, despite facing security hurdles.

He directed NWFP home secretary Badshah Gul Wazir to take measures for securing the hitherto insecure areas in the troubled Swat valley so as to ensure holding of polls there on time.

Mr Farooq was optimistic that weather conditions in snowbound areas in the province would improve in the next couple of days, which would help voters in approaching polling stations in the areas.

Responding to reservations expressed by the home secretary and different district returning officers (DROs) at a daylong orientation programme organised here for the DROs, the CEC said there would be limited areas in Swat having few polling stations and the security situation could improve there in the next couple of days.

“Try to solve the problem so that elections can be held on time to dispel deep-rooted cynicism that elections will not be held on schedule,” he said, addressing the home secretary.

The home secretary and the DROs had expressed reservations about the security situation, harsh weather in the mountainous areas, voters’ lists and lack of proper transportation.

Mr Wazir said there was concentration of militants in the Gut Peuchar area of Matta and security forces had yet to secure that pocket which was adjacent to Upper Dir.

Abbottabad DRO Syed Hayat Ali Shah said voters’ lists had been prepared on the basis of blocks established for population census due to which they had received 1,000 complaints that voters of one village had been included in another village 10km away. He said they would require 100 jeeps for snowbound areas.

The CEC said they had been facing some problems with the voters’ lists, especially after the addition of about 25 million voters in the earlier prepared lists on the orders of the Supreme Court.

He said the voters’ lists had been prepared on the basis of door-to-door enumeration and the 2002 lists had been prepared on the basis of census forms.

Initially, he said, the voters’ lists included 55 million voters and on the orders of the apex court the Election Commission included 25 million more voters, which created some complications.

Mr Farooq said due to lack of time it would not be possible to set up mobile polling stations for earthquake-affected people who were about 13,500 in number.

Kohat DRO Shahjehan Khan Akhundzada said they had also been facing security problems because the district bordered Dara Adamkhel. He said there was a sense of insecurity among polling officers, especially women, and they were reluctant to perform election duties.

The CEC advised him that being the district and sessions judge he had the powers to issue orders to security personnel, including the district police officer. He added that they should consult security agencies in this regard.

Earlier, addressing the DROs, Mr Farooq said the Election Commission was all set to hold elections on Feb 18. He hoped that by that time the security situation would further improve in the province to provide peaceful atmosphere for voters to express their political opinion through ballot.

“We are committed to holding elections impartially, fairly and in accordance with the law,” he said, adding: “As district returning officers you will have to play a pivotal role in the conduct of elections. Your first and foremost priority should be maintenance of law and order in polling stations and in districts, particularly on the polling day.

“All those who are participating in elections should be conscious of the fact that Pakistan is passing through one of the most sensitive and crucial stage of its history.