Voters’ toll for upcoming general elections may exceed 85 million with addition of almost four million new voters to the lists under preparation with National Registration and Database Authority (NADRA).
Sources at the Election Commission informed APP on Monday that more than two million new voters have been added to voters’ lists since door-to-door enumeration process culminated in August last.
“Two million more voters have been added to electoral rolls since enumeration process last August and more entries are made to lists daily as hundreds of youth are becoming eligible with every passing day,” the sources informed.
Giving approximate details of the data collected so far, these sources said that by now the registered voters’ toll from Punjab is 48 million, from Sindh 19 million, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 12 million, from Balochistan three million, from FATA 1.56 million and from Islamabad Capital Territory 0.60 million.
It has been learnt that NADRA has almost completed the task of data entry, but the final print of entries will be taken close to the polls for the reasons that thousands of entries have to be changed daily due to new voters’ enlistment and transfer and posting and shifting of people from one region to the other.
“The main work has been done and, presently, the `reconciliation process is on,” the sources at the commission also said. “Daily, thousands entries are being made or deleted under the Reconciliation Process due to change of the constituencies for the voters who are either transferred or shift from one area to the other or deletion due to those who expire”. vIt is now the matter of a few thousands whose entries are needed to be corrected,” the sources added and mentioned to Dukki area in Loralai of Balochistan province and a couple of districts in Sindh where the updation process in on. When asked about exact figures, the sources showed inability on grounds that data keeps on changing with new entries, shifting voters from one constituency to the other and deletion due to death of many. “It is merely adjustment of areas under the `Reconciliation Process’ as these voters have already been registered to computerized electoral rolls,” the sources added. It is worth mentioning that NADRA had identified around 45 percent or over 37 million unverified voters in the lists of 81 million on which basis the 2008 general elections were conducted. After thorough investigation of the lists, data about more than 37 million voters was updated out of the then total registered voters.
The deletion and addition process had taken the tally of registered voters to 80.6 million. Then the enumeration process was started and data was collected countrywide and entries were updated on basis of enumeration as well as the data available with NADRA.
According to figures revealed by the sources, the data at present is hovering around slight over 84 million. But, with daily addition to the data of the new voters it is expected that the figure will cross 85 million and even beyond if the elections are held in time. “The lists will sooner be ready for printing,” the sources stated. “However, it is not yet confirmed that either the Commission decides to publish them now or close to elections to save the expenditure that may tentatively cost millions of rupees to the Commission.” He explained that it is huge data and printing will mean hundreds of thousands copies. Therefore, there is possibility that the updation process continues but the final print out is taken when the schedule for election is announced. Till then, the voters’ entry process will continue. Pre-monsoon warning forces civic bodies to act RAWALPINDI, June 18 (APP):The pre-monsoon and 15 percent above normal rainfall prediction by the Metrological Department has rang the bell for the oblivious civic bodies of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to act before it is too late..
The different portions of the roads and choked drainage lines need urgent attention of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), tehsil muncipal administration (TMA) and Capital Development Authority (CDA). The road near Hamza Camp U-Turn on Murree Road is fast breaking up due to the indifferent attitude of the city’s civic bodies, despite repeated requests to start work before onset of the monsoon.
Rawal Town Administrator Anwar Saif Jappa has agreed to carry out the repair work, but, later denied, saying the RDA be asked to carry out the work.
When approached, RDA Director General Chaudhry Naseer said they only carry out mega projects and minor assignments of repair and maintenance are carried out by the TMA. The drainage lines from Koral Chowk to Flying Club are already choked, and both CDA and RDA are not ready to carry out the work, claiming the area does not fall under their jurisdiction.
The motorists and residents have contended that the chief minister has granted huge funds for carrying various road projects in the city, but no one is ready to take responsibility.
Shafiq, a motorist who daily travels to the capital, wondered why the ruts and cuts are not being repaired before the rainy reason.
Adnan, another resident, was of the view that it showed the indifferent attitude of the city administration and urged the Commissioner to take remedial step. This was the time for action for the civic bodies, as Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted that pre-monsoon period will start from the last week of this month and more rains are expected as compared to the previous year.
