NADRA suggests framework for preparation of Gilgit-Baltistan electoral rolls | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

NADRA suggests framework for preparation of Gilgit-Baltistan electoral rolls

ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has suggested a collaborated framework to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan in order to prepare computerised electoral rolls of the province.

This was suggested to a delegation of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan led by Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah who visited headquarters of NADRA on Monday.

Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik also presented a draft of contract about the preparation of electoral rolls of GB to the Chief Minister, Chief Election Commissioner and other delegates for review. Chairman NADRA while giving presentation to the delegates informed that projected adult population of Gilgit-Baltistan was 624,982, while total computerized national identity cards so far issued in this region were 607,880 that depicted 97 percent CNIC issuance coverage. Chairman briefed the delegates about the authority’s experience regarding preparing Final Electoral Rolls 2012 for Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “We have helped ECP to develop an electoral rolls database instead of just voter’s lists which means we have empowered ECP with an extensive audit trail system resulting in transparency and accountability,” informed the Chairman.

NADRA shared its experience of electoral rolls of ECP and all the significant processes it passed through in line with agreement of ECP, while all the unique and verifiable features of ERs were discussed during the meeting. Also, step by step methodology was deliberated which was followed by NADRA in preparing FER 2012 for ECP, which included all steps ranging from verification of FER 2007 to preparation of final electoral rolls 2012 which were finally printed after door to door verification and handed over to ECP on July 31, 2012.

It is worth adding that as per guidelines of ECP, FER 2012 is being augmented on monthly basis with freshly issued CNICs. NADRA suggested Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan to workout necessary legal amendments to make CNIC mandatory for voters’ registration as well as vote casting. Chief Election Commissioner GB assured NADRA to take up the matter with relevant authorities in this regard. Tariq Malik, Chairman NADRA, offered visiting GB soon to look after the smooth issuance of CNICs, while he also offered all out efforts and help to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan in this regard.

The delegation of the government of Gilgit-Baltistan was comprised of Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister; Jameel Ahmed, Deputy Speaker; Wazir Shakeel Ahmed, Minister of Law; Engineer Muhammad Ismail, Minister Local Government; Muhammad Arif Ibrahim, Secretary Finance; Muhammad Abbas, Secretary Local Government; Muhammad Kamal, Secretary Coordination & Implementation and Khalid Mehmood, Secretary Law. Also, a team of the Election Commission Gilgit-Baltistan was part of the delegation and the members of the team were Rahim Nawaz Khan Durrani, Chief Election Commissioner; Abid Raza, Deputy Election Commissioner and Khursheed Ahmed, Election Officer.

The Nation