ISLAMABAD: The names of 5.3 million people, who have recently obtained computerised national identity cards (CNICs), have been included in the voters’ lists of Punjab and Sindh.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is going to put the draft voters’ lists on display for seven days only after Eid holidays in what appears to be a violation of law.

The Electoral Rolls Act-1974 provides for display of draft voter lists for at least 21 days. Section 10 of the act reads: “Every claim for inclusion of a name in the electoral roll, and every objection to, or application for correction of, any entry therein shall be made to the revising authority on the prescribed form within a period of 21 days (or more as prescribed by the Election Commission) following the date of the publication of the preliminary electoral rolls.”

When contacted, an ECP official told Dawn that the period for filing objections had been curtailed because it would not be possible to hold local government (LG) elections in Punjab and Sindh on Sept 20 as per orders of the Supreme Court if the voters’ lists were displayed for three weeks or more in accordance with the law.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani expressed surprise over the ECP’s decision and said the commission should assert its authority and conduct the LG polls in accordance with the law. “The mandate of the commission is clearly defined in the Constitution and it is not subordinate to the superior judiciary,” he said.

Draft electoral rolls to be put on display from 21st for a week

He said he would raise the issue in the next session of the Senate. “I will call for abolition of the ECP if it cannot implement the law and play its constitutional role,” he added.

The ECP official said that the names of 3.95m CNIC holders from Punjab and 1.35m from Sindh had been included in voters’ list. Besides, the names of 136,530 voters from Punjab and 21,782 from Sindh had been excluded from electoral rolls after their death or disqualification because of nationality surrender or cancellation of CNICs.

He said the people whose CNICs had recently been issued by the National Database and Registration Authority had been automatically enrolled as voters and if they did not file any objection in a week, it would be assumed that they were satisfied with the entry.

The lists containing the names of new voters will be put on display in the two provinces from July 21 to 27. People will have one week for inspection of electoral rolls for addition, deletion or correction. Those seeking an addition, deletion or correction will have to file applications on the respective forms available at the offices of registration officers and assistant registration officers.

Voters will also have the facility to check their voting details by sending their CNIC numbers (without hash or space) to 8300 through SMS.

The ECP has advised people of Punjab and Sindh to avail the opportunity and said that no addition, deletion or transfer in the electoral rolls will be possible after announcement of the election schedule.

Under Section 20 of the Electoral Rolls Act, no addition, deletion or correction in voters’ lists is allowed after announcement of the election schedule.

The schedule for LG polls is most likely to be announced in or around the first week of August.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

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