ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The Election Commission of Pakistan has so far received 423,689 applications from citizens to get themselves registered as voters during the commission's current drive to update the electoral rolls.

Out of 423,689, about 121,770 claims have been filed in Punjab, 221,079 in Sindh, 58,715 in NWFP and 22,125 in Balochistan. The information about enrolments made by registration officers in provinces were shared with the Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan during a meeting of the provincial election commissioners and senior officers of the election commission here on Monday.

During the meeting the CEC reminded people that Dec 31, 2004 was the last date for filing claims for enrolment, deletions, objections and applications for corrections in the electoral rolls.

He emphasized the need of preparing an error-free updated electoral rolls, by adding that electoral rolls were soul of democracy and necessary for holding free, fair and transparent elections.

He also directed the assistant election commissioners throughout Pakistan to ensure that no enrolment was made without verification of the particulars of an intending voter after holding summary enquiry so as to obviate the possibility of unauthorized enrolments.

Similarly, the provincial election commissioners were directed to hold regular meetings with the deputy election commissioners and assistant election commissioners to ensure strict implementations of the directions in letter and spirit.

To facilitate the enrolment of voters, not in possession of national identity cards, the registration officers were directed to accept attested photo copy of international passport of a claimant for the purpose of enrolment subject to fulfilment of other legal requirements.