The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the poll timings on May 11 to be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this time frame of eight hours could be insufficient for the registered voters. There are several factors that need to be considered. Firstly, starting the polls early and concluding it sometime near Maghrib would be suffice. Secondly, this time the elections are being held in very challenging circumstances in the face of growing election-related terrorism. Long queues of voters at polling stations could turn out to be a soft prey for the terrorists. Thirdly, some 40 million new voters have reportedly been added to our electoral system. Large number of charged youths is also expected to show up for the polls. In the light of these observations it will be pertinent if the ECP announces extension of polling timings at least from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the country.
S ZAFAR
Islamabad