DACCA: The Chief Election Commissioner, Justice A. Sattar, said here today [Aug 26] it was his intention to have the electoral rolls prepared within the shortest period of time.

The Chief Election Commissioner told newsmen at Dacca Airport on his arrival here from Rawalpindi that the high level meeting of election officials, which would be held here tomorrow and the day after, would finalise matters relating to different stages of preparation of electoral rolls. The Election Chief, who has convened this meeting, will preside over it. The Secretary of the Election Commission, Mr Hammad Raza, the Chairman of two Provincial Election Authorities, and two Regional Election Commissioners will attend the meeting, among others.

Justice Sattar parried a number of questions on delimitation and holding of elections saying that he would not like to be dragged into controversial questions. He said his “main concern now” was the preparation of electoral rolls. It was more or less agreed — and there were no two opinions — that the future elections would be held on the basis of adult franchise. And, therefore, he had been asked to prepare electoral rolls of the basis of adult franchise, he added. Replying to a question on delimitation, Justice Sattar said it would not be done without a constitutional basis. — Correspondent

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2019