Elections will be held on time: CEC
06 October, 2012
LAHORE: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim on Friday said next general elections would be conducted on time. The CEC was talking to reporters during his visit to the Provincial Election Commission of Punjab. He also declared that action would be taken against all lawmakers who did not respond to the declaration regarding dual nationality as the country was in dire need of "pure Pakistanis" as its representatives. He said that it was a defining moment for the country and if transparent elections would not be held then the nation wouldn't have the "new Pakistan" it was craving for. To a question about fate of dual national lawmakers when some assemblies had refused to submit their affidavits regarding members' citizenship, the CEC said they would take action against the lawmakers who would not respond to the directive until October 9. He said further the Election Commission of Pakistan had already summoned a meeting on October 9 to decide the issue. He said that it was the Election Commission of Pakistan that had disqualified parliamentarians first and later the Supreme Court started looking into the matter, as it was most important issue of the country. He said parliament was upset over how some politicians were disqualified for holding dual nationalities. "We sought information from some of them, but they refused to cooperate," he added. The CEC said that the ECP was meant to hold free and fair elections. He added that it was the responsibility of the commission to compile voter lists accurately, however, the politicians, media, civil society and voters were also responsible for it. He appealed to people to get their names registered in he voter lists. He said that the number of polling stations has also been increased to facilitate the voters. Earlier, the CEC held a meeting with the provincial members of the commission who briefed him about the preparations of the by-polls in Punjab. He also held a meeting with Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's (HRCP) representative Hussain Naqi and discussed different issues. Later, he visited Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan. Earlier, in the CEC meeting, a presentation was delivered on the upcoming general elections. He was informed that there were more than 73,000 census blocks in Punjab. He was told that in 2002 the number of registered voters was 41.5 million, however, it has increased to about 48.91 million in 2012. The CEC was also informed that 72 National Assembly constituencies of 150; and 137 Punjab Assembly constituencies of 297 were required to be re-described. End.
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