GILGIT: The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has kicked off preparation of computerised electoral rolls for upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) elections.

It will be the first time that GBLA elections would be conducted using computerised electoral rolls.

An official of the Election Commission told Dawn on Thursday that preparation of computerised electoral rolls had been started this week. He said that the GB Election Commission and Nadra had signed a contract for preparation of the electoral rolls to be used in the upcoming elections.

He said that GBLA had also carried out amendment according to which CNIC had been made mandatory for casting vote. He said that the revenue department had been tasked to complete door-to-door verification of the CNICs throughout GB until October this year.

The official said that final computerised electoral rolls would be ready by December this year. He said that ‘one CNIC, one vote’ would be introduced in GB for the first time to ensure fair and transparent elections and eliminate double vote casting and other flaws.

The Election Commission will also hold a seminar on Friday (today) to consult and seek input from all stakeholders for preparation of the electoral rolls. The GB governor, chief minister, members of GBLA and GB Council, and representatives of all political parties of the region are expected to participate in the seminar.

According to data released by Nadra, the total number of voters in the region is 596,000.

HELD FOR CORRUPTION: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested four officials and a contractor of National Vocational and Training Commission (NAVTTC) project, Gilgit Baltistan, on the charges of corruption.

An FIA official told this correspondent on Thursday that NAVTTC project was launched in GB in 2009. He said that Rs130 million had been allocated to infrastructure development and purchase of other necessities of the project. He said that embezzlement of huge amount of funds was detected in the project.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2014