Ballot papers’ delivery under way

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday said the delivery of ballot papers with the help of security personnel was underway simultaneously in the four provinces as the printing of ballot papers will be completed by February 2.

According to the ECP spokesman, preparations for the general elections of February 8 are in full swing. The printing of ballot papers, which is being done in three government press institutes, is going on satisfactorily. “The printing work, which started on January 16 after the allotment of election symbols by returning officers (ROs), will be completed in the next four days, i.e. by February 2,” he said and added that at the same time, with the help of security agencies, ROs and district administrations, the delivery of ballot papers has started for the four provinces. These deliveries are being done both by road and air.

Apart from this, he pointed out, from January 29, 2024, 8300 SMS service has been provided to the general public to get information about their polling station among other information. Voters will have to send their identity card number to 8300 to get their vote information. All voters have been requested to get details of their and their family’s vote on time so that they do not face any problem in polling stations. Meanwhile, the commission has so far completed the training of 970,000 polling staff out of 976,000 required polling staff, which is 96 per cent of the total required number. The training of the remaining 6,000 polling personnel will be completed in the next four days. Separately, taking immediate notice of the news circulating in some sections of media today, according to which a group of Ulema in Kohistan has allegedly issued a fatwa banning women from campaigning, the commission immediately sought a report from the district monitoring officer, Kohistan Upper, who clarified in his report that the news was not true and this was a result of misconception. However, the spokesman said the commission wanted to make it clear that if a woman was prevented from campaigning or voting in the constituency concerned during the upcoming elections, it would take action under Section 9 of the Elections Act and the process of elections in that constituency could also be declared null and void.

Meanwhile, the ECP has taken note of incidents of clashes and firing between two political parties in Karachi over flag hoisting and snatching of postal ballots in the Swabi district. The commission has sought reports from the chief secretary and the IG concerned so that action can be taken against those involved in these incidents under election laws.