QUETTA, Jan 23: The people's lack of interest in registering their names in voters' list would affect the political and democratic process in the country, says Balochistan Election Commissioner Nasreen Pervaiz.

She said this while speaking during a programme at the local press club here on Friday. Stressing the need for creating awareness about democracy among students, she said the provincial government should include the subject in the curricula of schools and colleges as had been done by the Punjab government.

The election commissioner stated that only a small proportion of registration forms had been returned the people, adding only 412 persons had filled objection forms while only 34 voters had filled forms for correction of their names.

She said that final registration lists would be displayed in March 2004, adding that anyone reaching the age of 18 years could register his or her name.The Balochistan Election Commissioner observed that it was difficult to develop public awareness in this regard without the cooperation of the print media.