The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed the process for verification of voter lists in around 28 percent census blocks of Karachi due to the prevailing law and order situation.
The ECP started the verification process of voter lists from Monday across the country.
While briefing journalists regarding arrangements made for the verification process in the province, Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch said that in Karachi, the verification of voter lists has been postponed in 3,923 out of 13,615 census blocks.
According to figures compiled by the ECP’s provincial office, the verification process was postponed in 1,626 blocks of Karachi East district, 1,125 blocks of Karachi West, 446 blocks of Karachi Central, 126 blocks of Karachi South and 600 blocks in the Malir district.
Baloch said that the process will be started in the ‘disturbed areas’ after the improvement of law and order situation.
“The Sindh government will be approached to provide protection to the verification staff involved with the assistance of law enforcement agencies.
“According to the voter’s lists prepared by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), around 20 million voters are registered in the Sindh province, including 6.8 million in Karachi only.
“The voters’ registration process will complete by March 2012 in three phases.
“The first phase that started on Monday will be completed by September 30th.
“For the job, the ECP has hired the services of around 33,363 employees of the Sindh Education Department that include 27 registration officers, 106 assistant registration officers and 10,047 supervisors.
“The staff will also verify the voter lists prepared by NADRA,” he added.
The Provincial Election Commissioner said that NADRA claims to have prepared the computerised national identity cards of 95 percent population of the country and will achieve 100 percent target by December.
Responding to a question, Baloch said the ECP has received complaints of mistakes in the voter lists, which will be removed during the verification process.
The process has also been postponed in Tando Muhammad Khan and Badin districts, and around 50 percent of the Tando Allahyar district due to displacement of a large population due to heavy rains and breaches in storm water drains.
