ECP says no to biometric system, okays cameras

Karachi
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has turned down Rangers’ suggestion to set up biometric systems at polling stations for the NA-246 by-elections, but agreed to their other recommendation to install CCTV cameras there on the condition that they do not violate the sanctity of the vote.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, ECP Secretary Baber Yaqoob, flanked by the commission’s member in Sindh, said every possible step was being taken to conduct the polls in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Prior to the press conference, Yaqoob discussed the arrangements for the by-polls with ECP and other senior government officials. Earlier in the day, he also visited the constituency.
The secretary said though the Rangers’ recommendation to hold elections with biometric systems in place was made in good faith, the ECP was technically not ready for this exercise yet.
He said the provincial government had offered to provide CCTV cameras for polling stations and if more were needed, the ECP would arrange them.
However, he made it clear that there would be no compromise over the sanctity of the vote.
Yaqoob said paramilitary soldiers, in addition to 7,300 police officials along with nine SPs would be deployed in the constituency for the polls.
“Rangers will be deployed in and outside polling stations for security under the Article 245 of the Constitution,” he explained.
“The presiding officers and Rangers at the polling stations will have the powers of first-class magistrates,” he added.
Responding to a question, he clarified that Rangers would be deployed for security only and the paramilitary soldiers inside polling stations would report to the presiding officer in case of any irregularity.
He said one paramilitary official would be deployed inside each polling station.
Replying to another question, he said there would be no power outages in the constituency on the polling day.
On the acceptability of expired computerised national identity cards for casting votes, he said the matter would be cleared before the elections.
The ECP secretary said he had paid an unscheduled visit to the constituency to review the situation.
Yaqoob further said he had received some complaints about violations of the code of conduct.
He added that he had received a written complaint from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf about some “ghost” polling stations.
“The ECP will look into these allegations,” he added.
The secretary appreciated Rangers and other functionaries’ cooperation with the ECP for ensuring that the by-polls were conducted in a peaceful and fair manner.
The ECP Sindh member told reporters that 3,585 books, each having 100 ballot papers, were being printed by the Printing Corporation of Pakistan under the monitoring of the Pakistan Army and Rangers.
“This way, the printing of fake ballot papers becomes impossible,” he added.
He further said a special paper was being used for printing ballots that was unavailable in the market.
He said 213 polling stations would be set up in the constituency where there
were over 350, 000 registered voters.