The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday extended the deadline for submission of fresh declarations of dual citizenship by lawmakers until November 30. The ECP held a meeting attended by all provincial election commissioners, officials of Nadra and other stakeholders to review the cases of those parliamentarians who failed to submit their fresh oath till November 9, the last date of filing the dual citizenship papers.
According to the Secretary Commission, 93 parliamentarians have failed to submit their fresh oaths till November 9. They included nine senators, 45 Members of National Assembly, 10 Members Provincial Assembly Punjab, 19 Provincial Assembly Sindh, 4 parliamentarians from KPK and one from Balochistan. Those who did not submit affidavits include Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan. National Assembly's Members include Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Rana Abdul Sattar, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Khan Wattoo, Hamid Yar Hiraj, Makhdoom Shahab-ud-Din, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, Mehreen Anwar Raja and Begum Shahnaz Sheikh. Punjab Assembly's Raja Riaz Ahmed, Robina Shaheen Wattoo and others.
Senator Atizaz Ahsan submitted his declaration statement on Monday with a letter, objecting the procedure adopted by ECP to collect the declarations from parliamentarians. The ECP, through a letter on October 9, had asked MPs and provincial lawmakers to submit their dual citizenship declarations within one month, which should be attested by oath commissioner to affirm that they did not possess dual nationality, warning that those failing to submit the affidavit on oath would be considered dual nationals and action could be initiated against them.
While briefing the media persons, Secretary Ishtique Ahmed said that the Commission extended the date to take affidavits on the request of some of the parliamentarians who were away to perform Hajj till November 30. However, those who did not submit their declarations without attestation would be allowed to re-submit their attested declarations within 15 days. Secretary ECP informed the media that by-election on two seats in Sindh, scheduled for November 17 and November 27 had been postponed till December 4 on account of Muharram. This postponement also applies to by-election on eight seats in Punjab too, he said.
Secretary said Provincial Government of Sindh has been conveyed by the ECP that delimitation of Karachi could not possible in the absence of national population census. Therefore, poll would be conducted on the basis of 2008 delimitation, secretary maintained. The Supreme Court of Pakistan in a suo motu directed the provincial government to end the polarisation in Karachi through administrative changes.
He also expressed the hope that the number of voters would reach 85 million from 84.3 million till March 2013. He further said till July 31, 2011, more than 77,000 voters physically visited election commission offices for queries.
The commission also decided to enhance the number of existing polling stations which are at present 65,000. It has been decided to increase the number of polling stations from 3,700 to 4,000. The polling stations in Sindh would be increased from 14,000 to 18,000 and Khyber Paktunkhwa would get more polling stations from 9,500 to 11,000. The commission decided to increase the number of polling stations in Balochistan keeping in view that each polling station would be within 2 to 10 kilometers radius.
Secretary further explained that 600,000 polling staffs could not be transferred and posted after December 31. Returning Officers would enjoy the magisterial power with the announcement of election schedule till the result of the respective constituency is announced. However, the magisterial power to Presiding Officers would be limited to three days. To avert any political affiliations or influence, the place of duty of these presiding officers would be announce a day ahead of the polling day. All the Presiding Officers would be in grade 17 to 19 to counter any pressure from any side at the time of polling, Secretary said.
The meeting of the commission will continue today (Tuesday). To a question, he said CCTV cameras would be installed at all the polling stations, declared sensitive to monitor the surroundings. A proposal from Transparency International and other organisation to assist the commission in this respect is under consideration, he added.