Despite government claims that the law and order situation in Karachi has improved, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought help from the law enforcement agencies to start the process of verification of voter lists in the disturbed areas of the city.
The ECP had started the verification process on August 22 throughout the country but postponed it in around 28 percent census blocks of Karachi due to volatile security situation. After the passage of 25 days, the ECP on Saturday decided to approach the provincial government for providing security to its staff for starting the process in the affected areas.
“We will send an official letter to the Sindh Home Department on Monday (tomorrow) [asking to ensure security to the ECP staff for starting the verification process in the troubled areas],” Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch said on Saturday. Talking to journalists at his office, he said the ECP needs security in 200 census blocks declared ‘sensitive’.
“These blocks comprise Kati Pahari, Qasba Colony, Orangi Town, Korangi, Sherpao Colony and Lyari among other areas.” The ECP had also postponed the process in two other districts of the province; Tando Muhammad Khan and Badin, and some parts of Tando Allahyar due to the displacement of a large number of people during recent heavy rains and flooding.
The commission is now considering extending the dates in other 18 districts of the province that have also been severely affected in the current monsoon season. Baloch said that he would personally visit the 18 districts to observe the situation and later recommend to the ECP authorities for extending the date of verification of voter lists in view of the prevalent conditions.
According to the voter lists prepared by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), around 20 million voters are registered in the Sindh province, including 6.8 million voters in Karachi. The ECP had earlier postponed the verification process of voter lists in 3,923 census blocks of the total 13,615 blocks in Karachi. According to the ECP provincial office, the process was put off in 1,626 blocks of defunct Karachi East, 1,125 blocks of Karachi West, 446 blocks of Karachi Central, 126 blocks in Karachi South and 600 blocks of defunct Malir district.
