Election Commission of Pakistan will appoint more than 20,000 officials as Revising Authorities to scrutinise the objections of voters regarding entries in the draft electoral rolls. The RAs will be designated the task of verifying entries and proposed correction in the lists and removing allegations filed by individual voters as well as political parties.
ECP sources informed APP on Monday that the process of appointing RAs will start soon after display of electoral rolls and subsequent objections raised by concerned quarters. "They will conduct regular hearing on entries, corrections as well as objections," the sources informed. "Their number may vary from 20,000 and 25,000." Elaborating, they said the appointment will be made after the draft electoral rolls are displayed at more than 50,000 centres across the country.
They further said National Database and Registration Authority will hopefully complete the electoral rolls by the end of present month and the same will be displayed at the designated centres during first week of March. However, they could not mention the exact date for display of the draft electoral rolls. "Nadra has completed 90 percent work for compiling data except some major cities where the voter number is much higher than small towns and cities," they added.
"Once we receive the draft rolls, Short Messaging Service (sms) service will be activated for entries, corrections and objections on the draft rolls." The sources stated that the number of RAs will be based on number of complaints filed by individual voters and political parties. The ECP, after receiving the sms, will transmit the entries, proposed corrections and objections to the RAs for regular hearing and address the complaints.
When asked about the time period of their appointment, they stated that if the lists are displayed during the first week of March, the appointment will be done by third week of March. Replying another question about their functioning, they said there would be no complications in this mechanism. The RAs will summon both the appellant and respondent to prove their stances on the basis of evidence. About the action on the information disseminated to ECP through sms, they the commission will be inspecting this information through the RAs.
Referring to the verification process, sources said any voter could get valid information about his or her registration in the voters' list by sending his or her CNIC information to the designated toll free number. If the recipient finds any discrepancy in the information recorded in the voters' list, he or she can approach the display centre and check it personally prior to submitting objections, they maintained. When asked about the finalisation of voters' lists, they expressed hope that the task will be accomplished by end of May.
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