ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: The Election Commission of Pakistan has devised a tight schedule for verification of electoral rolls in Karachi and hopes to complete the process in the last week of February, just weeks ahead of the expected general election.

In line with a decision of the Supreme Court, the ECP approved on Friday the timetable for voters’ verification which would include verification and digitisation of people who obtained national ID cards between Sept 1 and Dec 15 this year.

The commission said that work related to verification to be conducted by Nadra had already started. Nadra was currently engaged in printing and delivering electoral lists for door-to-door verification.

Officials of the ECP plan to complete other support activities between Dec 17 and 30. The main work will be undertaken from Dec 31 and officials will visit allocated census blocks, which are electoral areas, and mark a number on the door of each house in order to know the exact number of household.

The ECP said the process would be completed in five days, that is by January 4, 2013.

The commission said that during these days returning officers would keep photocopy and forward verified copies to Nadra for scanning and printing updated draft electoral rolls.

Officials have been directed to visit each household and verify names of the voters on the electoral roll in accordance with the procedure to be provided by the commission.

The ECP has set 18 days, from Jan 5 to Jan 22, to complete the work in the presence of army and FC personnel.

During the next five days, between Jan 23 and 27, officials will crosscheck data at three stages for final submission to returning officers.

The ECP officials have been directed to maintain their record at one secure place with the assistance of army and FC.

The next process is to be completed by Nadra within 14 days between Jan 28 and Feb 10.

After the completion of the process, the returning officers will match the final list coming from Nadra with the photocopy retained by the ECP staff, within 10 days, by Feb 20.

The final electoral roll will be released by Feb 24.

The ECP said the entire process would be completed in 69 days during which officials would be working also on off days.