Nadra yet to clear the ‘dust’
By: Ramzan Chandio
KARACHI: The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) had not yet submitted its report with the Election Commission to clarify the reasons of reduction in the number of voters in Sindh, officials told TheNation on Saturday.
Following the hue and cry from the political parties and objections raised by the Sindh government, the Sindh branch of the election commission wrote to the Nadra, seeking clarification for massive decline of around 1.1 million votes in the electoral list.
When contacted, Sindh Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch told TheNation that provincial election commission has not received any letter from Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah regarding verifying the reasons of massive decline of about 1.1 million in the final electoral lists issued by Election Commission of Pakistan. Clarifying the election commission’s position, Sindh’s Election Commission said that the EC had sought clarification from the Nadra about the reduction of number of votes in the Sindh province as electoral voter list was prepared on the basis of Computerised National Identity Cards.
“The Nadra will clarify any variation of number of CNICs issued earlier and new, on which final electoral list issued,” said that provincial election commissioner, adding that Nadra will submit its report about the variation in the number of Computerised National Identity Cards.
If the bogus CNIC was found by the Nadra, the reduction in the number of voters of Sindh province was correct, he added. Meanwhile, PPP Sindh General Secretary and former Senator Taj Haider while talking to TheNation said that the party was discussing the draft letter, which would be sent to the Election Commission soon. He added that the ruling PPP will review the electoral list of Sindh as a large number of eligible people were not included in the voter lists. Haider attributed the anomalies in the houses’ census was the reason for reduction in the number of votes of Sindh, which to be challenged in the Election Commission by his party soon.
Ruling PPP’s provincial general secretary disclosed that several complaints were received about the inclusion of names of illegal immigrants in electoral list in Karachi, which needs to be deleted and investigated immediately by the Election Commission.
PPP leader announced that his party will take up the issue with the election commission and demanded for deletion of names of the illegal immigrants from the electoral lists issued by the election commission.
It may be noted that the total number of votes in Sindh was 19,539,510 in 2007, while the number of votes stood at 18,432,877 in the new electoral lists issued by the election commission recently, showing reduction of around 1.1 million votes.
Almost all the political parties of Sindh including ruling alliance of Sindh government have expressed concern over a massive decline in the number of Sindh’s votes in the recently released electoral lists and demanded the Election Commission to look into the matter and verify the list.
However, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who is the provincial chief of the ruling PPP, had also recently expressed reservations over the decline in the votes of Sindh. However, the Election Commission will clarify its position after receiving the report from the Nadra regarding decline in the Sindh’s votes.
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