ECP to set up around 80,0000 polling stations

The Election Commission has announced that Election Schedule will be announced on 23rd of this month. A spokesman of the Election Commission announced Wednesday that the process of submission of nomination papers will begin on 25th of this month‚ which will be completed on 30th of this month.

Scrutiny of nomination papers would begin on 31st of this month and will continue for 7 days. Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by 18th of next month while final list of the contesting candidates would be published the following day.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will set up around 80,0000 polling stations across the country for the upcoming general elections.

“Though exact number of polling stations is yet to be ascertained, it will be around 80,0000 against 65,000 during previous general polls, “an ECP official told media on Wednesday. He said on the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, polling stations would be set up after two- kilometer distance to facilitate the maximum number of voters.

However, he said the exact locations of the polling stations would be finalized after consultation with the public as well as the political parties. If any difference comes forth regarding location of any polling station, the Commission would change it accordingly or set up more to resolve the matter, he said.

“In tribal areas, people avoid visiting other tribe’s premises owing to security reasons. In such case, the people prefer to have polling stations in their own area,” the official said. To a question, he said people could even register their vote till the announcement schedule.

He said people could confirm their vote registration just simply sending SMS to 8300. If anyone’s vote is not registered, the sender would receive name and contact number of the official concerned who could be approached for vote registration, he said. The official said vote could be registered by filing one page form along with photo copy of national identity card. He said the ECP had allotted election symbols to 144 political parties for elections-2013, whereas the matter regarding the allotment of ‘arrow’ awaits resolution.

The ECP has fixed the matter on March 25 to hear the matter as some other political parties had also applied for the same. The remaining big parties were almost allotted their old emblem from which they had contested in previous elections.

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