KARACHI, Jan 30: The second phase of preparation and verification of electoral rolls will begin from Feb I to 7.

This was stated at a workshop jointly organized by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Karachi on Wednesday.

The workshop was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan.

The workshop was informed that the process of sending copies of manuscripts by the ECP to Nadra will begin from Feb 11 and Nadra will return five printed copies of electoral rolls to the ECP on April 2.

The draft publication and finalization of claims and objections by the judiciary will continue from April 9 to 29.

In his inaugural address, the CEC, Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan, directed Election Commission’s officials to ensure non-registration of any foreigner as a voter in the electoral rolls, and special care should be taken by the enumeration staff in case of Afghan refugees, as they were not Pakistanis and their names could not be registered in the electoral rolls.

He highlighted the importance of free and fair elections and its vitality for democracy and emphasized upon the officers of the ECP to perform their duties in a judicious, free and transparent manner.

ECP FORMATION: He said the formation of the Election Commission of Pakistan would be complete in a week.