The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to approach Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for financial autonomy to the commission in order to ensure its complete independence. The decision was taken in an ECP meeting on Wednesday with Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza in the chair. The five-member commission approved submission of a summary to the prime minister for granting full financial autonomy to the ECP. A senior ECP official told Pakistan Today that the summary would be sent in the next two days.
The commission also gave approved to introduce an SMS facility to check vote registration and verify particulars in the voters list. The official said that people would able to check their votes by sending a mobile text message on a number to be issued by the ECP next month.
The commission also approved registration of nine new political parties. The newly formed parties include, Tehreek-i-Istehkaam-e-Pakistan, Islamic Republican Party, Roshan Pakistan League, Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party, Jamaat Aalay Kalamullah wa Farmaan-e-Rasool, Jannat Pakistan Party, Pakistan Muhajir League, Pakistan People’s Alliance and the Bahawalpur National Awami Party.
The meeting was attended by Justice (r) Riaz Kayani, Justice (r) Shazhad Akbar Khan, ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan and other senior officials.
Moreover, the EC also allotted symbols to three political parties. The Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan was given “Cup and Saucer”; the Tehreek-e-Sooba Hazara Pakistan was allotted “Truck”, and the Mustaqbil Pakistan was allotted a “Wrench”. While the details of intra-party elections of three political parties, including the National People’s Party, Pakistan Bachao Party and the Pak-Muslim Alliance, were approved for publishing in the official gazette.