MARDAN, Feb 15: The deputy election commissioner of Mardan, Ghiyasuddin Balban, has said that arrangements have been completed for a free and fair election to be held in October.

Talking to Dawn, he said that Mardan division comprised Mardan and Swabi districts and had a population of more than 2.5 million according to the 1998 census.

Mr Balban said that the total number of registered voters in the recent local bodies election was 597,421 in Mardan district and 423,721 in Swabi district. He said that 44,729 new applications for enrolment as Muslim voters were received in Mardan and 48,961 in Swabi district. Non-Muslims seeking enrolment as voters were 54 in Mardan and 57 in Swabi.

Meanwhile, people have criticized the new voter list prepared by the election commission which allegedly had many mistakes pertaining to their names and other particulars.

They said the election office was situated in Majidabad, a remote place, and one can get to there only by hiring a rickshaw which cost them at least Rs100.

Mr Balban said the election office building was hired on contract which was expiring in the current month and added that the new building located near the DIG office, which is in the heart of the city.