A meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Manzoor Hussain Gillani was held here on Saturday in order to seek suggestions for the upcoming State elections in a smooth and transparent manner for the AJK Legislative Assembly to be held in July 2006.
The leaders of all the political parties of AJK unanimously agreed that in the voting list, identity card number and address of the voter should be mentioned along with the voter's name.
President Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian, Sahibzada Ishaq Zafar said that a fresh voting list should be prepared. He said that there are 28 constituencies in AJK but there is no parity among them. New constituencies should be established whereas special steps should be taken for polling vote of the Kashmiris living abroad, he added.
Naib Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Noor-ul-Bari said that the voting list should be revised every year. He said that there should be a committee, which should verify either a person is a bona fide voter or not and according to its verification the voters' list should be prepared.
Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) AJK Munir Hussain Chaudhary said that election commission has allotted a large number of election symbols and their number should be reduced.
President Muslim League Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Muhammad Azad said to cast a vote identity card, driving licence or any other document should be provided by which the voter is recognised.
Secretary Peoples Party Azad Kashmir, Sardar Saghir Chughtai, Secretary General Jammu Kashmir Liberation League, Khawaja Manzoor Qadir, Jamiat-e-Ulmae Azad Kashmir Sahibzada Atiq-ur-Rehman, President Kashmir Freedom Movement Sardar Aftab Ahmed Khan, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party Sardar Najeeb-ur-Rehman, Secretary General Jamiat-e-Ulmae Azad Kashmir, Syed Mumtaz Hussain Kazmi and leader of Muslim League Azad Kashmir, Syed Akram Shah unanimously said that the number of constituencies should be increased so that the voters can easily cast their votes.
CEC, Justice Manzoor Gillani assured the political parties' leaders that he would present these suggestions to the government of AJK for amendments.
He said that the election commission is fulfilling its responsibilities in this regard and it needs help of political parties.