Over 2,000 journalists working in various media houses in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will not be able to cast their votes in their ancestral areas due to their duties on election's day. The journalists, who belong to various parts of the country, have demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to devise a swift strategy to facilitate them to cast their vote in their respective constituencies on May 11.
A large number of journalists have been assigned election duties by their organisations in the Federal Capital and neighbouring Rawalpindi for providing prompt information to the general public. The elections are one of the biggest exercises in the peace time and every media organisation wants its proper coverage. But, unfortunately, the ECP did not devise any system in this era of high technology to ensure use of right to vote by the journalists.
Zaghum Abbas Naqvi, a journalist belonging to Sargodha, told APP that the government employees have been given an opportunity to cast their vote through ballot papers but this facility is extended to the journalists. Hafiz Nasir, another journalist who belongs to Raheem Yaar Khan, said that the ECP through a number of advertisements, seminars and conferences educated the people about the importance of their vote for the betterment of country. Ballot is the only way to elect representatives, he added.
He regretted that the ECP did not devise a mechanism for the journalists of the twin cities to cast their votes registered in their native areas. Waqar Satti, President of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Union of Journalists, talking to APP, said that it is the responsibility of the ECP to install a system through which the media persons could cast their votes.
He urged the ECP to take immediate action in this regard and devise a system facilitating the journalists to use their democratic right. When contacted, ECP spokesman Khursheed Alam said that under the law there is no system for journalists or private employees to cast their votes. There is a need to amend laws enabling such people to caste their votes, but it is not possible at this stage, he added.
Barrister Afzal Hussain, talking to APP: he said that the parliament has been dissolved after completing its term and now only the President of Pakistan could promulgate an ordinance in this regard. He said that the journalists sacrificed a lot for the democratic system in the country by upholding the rule of law and they should be given the right to cast their votes. Afzal requested the President to promulgate an ordinance facilitating the journalists to cast votes in their receptive areas while performing the duties at their workplace.