Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, former Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, on Monday recommended to the federal government to adopt joint electorate basis for holding elections of the local councils so as to be in conformity with the holding of elections to the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies in year 2002.
The Chief Election Commissioner said this while presiding over a meeting regarding the campaign of revision of electoral lists held here in the conference room of the Election Commission.
The meeting was attended by all the four Provincial Election Commissioners besides Secretary Hassan Mohammad and other senior officials of the Election Commission.
The Chief Election Commissioner said, "Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has been pleased to approve 'the proposal in principle."
All provincial governments have also supported the joint electorate system for local bodies elections, he said. Elections for local bodies will be held like the general elections-2002 for National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies if recommendations are approved.
General elections-2002 for the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies were held on joint electoral basis.
The Chief Election Commission has, therefore, requested the federal government that appropriate steps be taken for amending the Local Government Ordinances.
Talking about the campaign for Revision of Electoral Lists, Irshad Hassan Khan called upon the officers of the Election Commission to take appropriate steps for informing the public as to the location of the offices of Revising Authorities, Registration Officers and Assistant Registration Officers where draft Electoral Rolls have been displayed for inspection by the general public since January 1, 2004.
The Chief Election Commissioner emphasised that an accurate and error-free updated Electoral Roll should be a basic step towards the goal of conducting a free, fair and transparent election.
"The accomplishment of this national task of highest importance is dependent upon the support and co-operation of the general public, the eligible voters and, in particular, the media," he said.
"The accuracy of the Revision of Electoral Rolls will depend on the correct, impartial and judicious decisions by the Revising Authorities, who are judicial officers appointed in consultation with the learned chief justices of the high courts," he said.
Appropriate steps, therefore, must be taken to create awareness among the public as to the importance of their registration as voters, he said.