MUZAFFARABAD: Following the registration of voters on the basis of their permanent address listed on computerised national identity cards (CNIC) and the subsequent elimination of dual votes, the number of voters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) territory has fallen by around 400,000.

This was disclosed by the AJK Chief Election Comissioner (CEC) Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal at the launch of the AJK Election Commission’s website on Monday.

“According to the lists for the 2011 polls, there were 2.37 million voters in the 29 constituencies located within Azad Kashmir. However, the figure has scaled down to 1.978 million in the preliminary voter lists for 2016 poll, recording a decrease of 391,939 votes,” the CEC said.

However, he added that this was not a final figure as voters could increase or decrease after the verification of lists by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), and subsequent decisions by the revising authorities on claims and objections raised by the people.

Those attaining 20 years of age by Apr 20, 2016, could get themselves enrolled by submitting an application to the registration officers or the revising authorities until April 20, he said.

The enumeration of voters was carried out from March 5 to March 25 across AJK which the CEC said was the shortest period for this process in AJK’s history. Nevertheless, he said he felt satisfied that the election commission would be able to produce transparent lists.

Giving details on the preliminary rolls, the CEC said that the highest decrease, of 100,975 votes, was recorded in the Kotli district, followed by 52,405 in the Mirpur district, 47,860 in the Muzaffarabad district, 43,984 in the Poonch district, 42,336 in the Bagh district, 40,603 in the Bhimber district, 31,394 in the Sudhnoti district, 18,865 in the Hattian Bala district, 13,417 in the Haveli district and 400 in the Neelum district.

The Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Mirpur districts comprise four constituencies each, while the Bagh, Bhimber and Sudhnoti districts have 3 constituencies each. Hattian Bala has two constituencies and the Haveli and Neelum districts consist of one constituency each.

The CEC said that Nadra deputed 23 mobile vans for AJK to prepare CNICs of eligible individuals, to help them get themselves enrolled through the concerned registration officers.

He said the finalisation and printing of electoral rolls was a must before the announcement of the election schedule.

Responding to a question on a fear-free environment, Mr Mughal said army or Rangers’ personnel would be deployed within polling stations.

He said the commission would not allow candidates to appoint polling agents who did not belong to the same constituency.

When asked about the registration of Pakistan-based Kashmiris, the CEC said the process was moving smoothly.

“Perhaps there were no checks and balances in the past which was why some people had got themselves enrolled as many as 10 times. But the duplication is being removed now,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2016