KARACHI, April 29: The Election Commission has issued directives for its polling staff regarding identification of eligible voters for referendum to prevent the element of fraud.

The EC announced here on Monday that the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, had emphasized the need for ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of participation of all eligible voters of 18 years and above to prevent fraud.

According to these instructions, the presiding officers must satisfy themselves as to the identity and age of eligible voters on the basis of documents referred to in the Referendum Order.

He emphasized that certificates issued by educational institutions, Nazims or Naib Nazims or government officer of BPS-17 and above must satisfy the conditions as had been approved by the Election Commission. Every documents must bear an attested photograph of the voter.

Only original service card issued by the employer bearing the photograph of the employee should be accepted. No photocopy or attested copy of a certificate would be admissible.

Before issuing a ballot paper, original international passport or Aqama should be seen by the assistant presiding officer, who issues the ballot paper. This should be applicable for Pakistanis residing abroad.

Only original driving licence with photograph should be accepted as a proof of identity. No photocopy or attested copy of such a document should be accepted.

The certificate, with photograph, issued by the head of educational institutions to be produced before the presiding officer should also be original and must bear the date of leaving the educational institution, if the student is not currently enrolled with an institution.

Government officers in BPS-17 and above should issue certificates with attested photographs to only those persons, who are personally known to them. It should be specifically stated in the certificate that the age of the entitled voter is 18 years or above on April 30, 2002 and is personally known to the government officer issuing the certificate.

Nazims or Naib Nazims should issue certificates with attested photographs to only those persons, who reside in their union councils/areas and who are personally known to them. The age and the fact that the voter is personally known to the Nazim or the Naib Nazim should be specifically mentioned in such certificates.

The above instructions should be strictly followed by all those persons, who are competent to issue certificates under the Referendum (Amendment) Order, 2002.

These guidelines are also to be strictly followed by the polling staff.

The Election Commission has issued a number of passes to international observers and media persons to see that the referendum is conducted fairly and eligible voters exercise their right of vote freely.—APP