Whereto ECP?

A large number of citizens would be deprived of their right to vote in the next general elections due to the ‘negligence’ of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as citizens complain that the staff of ECP did not come to their houses to verify their vote. Sources have claimed that about 1.7 million voters are yet to be registered. ECP claimed to have gone house to house to verify voters till October 31st. On the other hand, confusion surrounds the purpose of the landline number (111293031), which ECP claims to be a helpline where complain can be launched if the registration staff does not reach one’s house. However, the staff on the helpline claims that they are sitting there to register votes. Citizens have alleged that that nobody receives the calls on the helpline and if they do, their attitude is extremely unfriendly. “Millions of people have been waiting to get their votes registered but have not been able to do so because of ECP’s negligence,” Insaf Students Federation (ISF) Information Secretary Waqas told Pakistan Today.
“A large number of students are yet to be registered and ECP should open camps in colleges and other institutions to facilitate them,” he said, adding that the youth, the only hope for Pakistan, was being deprived of casting their votes and the federal government should look into the matter. “The citizens can register their votes by submitting a form at the ECP office or by calling the helpline,” Election Commission Assistant Officer Abdul Waheed said, adding “This is not the final list. After we verify the list with NADRA and display it, citizens can file complains if they do not find their names in them.” He said ECP staff visited every house and it was the people who were not available. People eager to witness a political change in the country desperately want to register their votes. Different NGOs have also been working to increase awareness about the significance of the right to vote. “Nobody came to our house and we do not have time to visit the ECP office,” said Anzar, a student, adding “My friends and I are eager to take part in the political process and ECP should facilitate us, instead of being negligent.”
“I called on the helpline and the operator told me to call in the morning and then nobody received the phone,” he said.
“I have been trying to contact the helpline for over 3 weeks now but nobody receives it. I wonder where all the money ECP is being paid to register votes is going if they can’t even make a helpline work,” said Noreen Khalid, a professor.