SUKKUR, April 10: Errors and omissions on a large-scale have been found in the fresh voters’ lists of national and provincial assemblies’ constituencies of Sukkur, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and other towns.

In some of the lists it was found that more than 300 per cent voters as against the existing number of people had been enrolled afresh.

A former federal minister and MNA from Kandhkot, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, in his letter addressed to the chief election commissioner of Jacobabad District referred to the errors in the voters’ lists of Kandhkot, Kashmor, Thul, and Garhi Khairo talukas.

Mr Bijarani pointed out that according to the 1998 census the population of Haibat Kacho was 67 but the number of voters registered there had been shown as 226.

He said that many of the entries were bogus as they showed many more people than there actually were.

He indicated that they were manipulated by certain unscrupulous elements in the electoral rolls and, therefore, required immediate remedial action.

Mr Bijarani said that the average ratio of registered voters against the total population of an electoral area varied from 50 to 60 per cent, and given the benefit of doubt it could go to 70 per cent. But, he said, the ratio went beyond 100 per cent at several places as in the case of Haibat Kacho area.

He appealed to the chief election commissioner to cancel these lists forthwith and enrol only genuine voters through door-to-door verification of these lists by joint teams of the election commission and army in coordination with the district Nazim.

He said that if these lists were not checked, it might shatter the confidence of the people in the government regarding its road-map for the revival of real democracy by October.

He also sent a chart of the voters’ lists with a comparative study highlighting total votes of the four talukas area-wise vis-a-vis its total population.

Mr Bijarani said that his political opponents were in connivance with the registration staff regarding preparation of bogus lists, which amounted to pre-poll rigging.

This correspondent also talked to Sardar Muqim Khan Khoso.

He said that the villages, which had been mentioned by Mr Bijarani, were highly populated as such the voters’ lists had been accurately prepared.

He accused Mr Bijarani of hiding his misdeeds which was why he was blaming others regarding the voters’ lists.

He also accused Mr Bijarani of enrolling thousands of voters in his constituency, who belonged to other areas, and regarding it an appeal had already been sent to the election commission.

He pointed out that the district Nazim was Mr Bijarani’s son and the Naib Nazim also hailed from his panel.

He wondered as to how anyone could manipulate the lists in their presence.

The deputy election commissioner, Iqbal Ahmed, while talking to Dawn, said that Mr Bijarani’s complaint was being looked into and at this stage it was premature to comment on it.

He said that the 1998 census could not be made the basis for registration of voters.

He said that the voters had been counted and registered after a door-to-door survey and there was little chance of any mistake.

The assistant election commissioner, Jacobabad, told Dawn that the voters’ lists had been prepared after verification and there was little chance of any error.

He said that even though Mr Bijarani’s complaint carried no weight, they were looking into it.