ISLAMABAD: July 17: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Monday demanded next general elections under the supervision of a government of national consensus as, according to him, the military had become a political actor and it would want elections of its choice.

The demand was made by Ahsan Iqbal, Central Secretary Information of Pakistan Muslim League (N) at a roundtable discussion on: “Voter Registration in Pakistan”, arranged by Centre for Civic Education Pakistan, in collaboration with National Endowment for Democracy.

Mr Iqbal said in the country’s history not even once the masses voted into power a government according to their wishes or voted out an unpopular one. The military by not accepting the election results in 1971 divided the country. Its interference in future elections to mould results into its favour could jeopardize the integrity of the federation.

He urged the people to get up and say “enough is enough” and not allow anyone to disenfranchise the people of Pakistan by rigging future elections.

Former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, were not two individuals but heads of two mainstream political parties and had a legitimate role to play in politics of the country. He demanded that the two leaders should be allowed to play their due role in the next year’s general elections.

Senator Rukhsana Zuberi of Pakistan People’s Party said elections were often rigged in Pakistan. She gave examples of rigging committed in Sindh and Balochistan. She demanded that all people above the age of 18 should be issued computerized ID cards so that they could cast their votes.

Brig (retd) Saleem Moeen, Chairman Nadra, said the authority had a comprehensive database where 95 per cent households were registered. He said there were 60 million people above the age of 18 and Nadra had issued computerized cards to 51.65 million citizens. Because of social restrictions the number of registered women was much lower than men, he added.

Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Federal Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), narrated a brief history of electoral lists in Pakistan and said that currently the Commission had two electoral lists: one list was prepared under the Local Government Ordinance and the other was revised and updated under Electoral Act of 1974.

He said the ECP has started work on preparation of fresh electoral rolls. He said suggestions and feedback from political parties and civil society would be welcomed regarding preparation of new electoral rolls.