The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has registered seven new political parties.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Commission held in Islamabad on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim.
The Commission approved a draft bill suggesting re-poll on the polling stations where less than 10% of the women votes are polled to ensure the number of women participation in the electoral process is increased.
It also aims to prevent such groups and parties entering into an agreement restraining women of a particular area or a polling station from exercising their right to vote.
The issue of granting right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis would be taken up in the political parties consultative meeting on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (R) Fakhruudin G. Ebrahim and attended by the Members Election Commission of Pakistan, namely, Justice (Retd) Muhammad Roshan Essani, Justice (Retd) Riaz Kayani, Justice (Retd) Shahzad Akbar Khan and Justice (Retd) Fazal-ur-Rehman. Mr. Ishtiak Ahmad Khan, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, All Provincial Election Commissioners and other senior officers also attended the meeting, says a press release issued here Wednesday.
After due deliberation and discussion on different important issues/items of Agenda, the Election Commission of Pakistan, inter alia, took the following decisions unanimously:
The documents submitted by the following seven newly formed political parties were found to be in conformity with the provisions of the Political Parties Order, 2002 and directed to be retained on record in accordance with law:
Pakistan Justice Party; Pakistan Muhammadi Party; Pakistan Muslim League-Humkhiyal; Public Forum; Pakistan Falah Party; Pakistan Hizbullah Party; and All Pakistan Peoples Qaumi Movement.
The requests of allotment of symbols from the three already recognized political parties were considered and symbols were allotted to these parties from the approved list of symbols and according to their preference. They are: Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party – Charpai; Sada-i-Pakistan Party – Wrist watch; and Tehreek Ehtahad-e-Adam – Ring.
A bill suggesting re-poll on the polling station(s) where less than 10% of the women votes are polled so that to increase the number of women participation in the electoral process and to prevent such groups/parties entering into an agreement restraining women of a particular area or a polling station from exercising their right to vote, was approved unanimously by the Commission which is now being sent to the Ministry of Law for forwarding it to the Parliament for legislation.
The issue of granting right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis was deliberated and it was decided that the matter will be taken up in the political parties consultative meeting scheduled on 27th September 2012.