Court seeks arguments on plea for biometric system for polls

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan Tuesday sought more arguments on maintainability of a petition seeking implementation of the biometric system for future general elections. Advocate Rizwan Zaka Gull had filed the petition submitting that many countries in the world had been successfully utilising the biometric system to hold their elections.
He said democracy had gradually been strengthened in those countries. He said opposition parties used to level allegation of rigging after every general elections. He submitted that the rigging factor could be eliminated from the polling process if biometric system was introduced in the country. He prayed the court to order the election commission to take steps for holding all future elections through biometric system. After hearing the arguments of the petitioner-lawyer, Justice Ijazul Ahsan adjourned hearing for next week.

By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: Amid protests and allegations of rigging, the local government elections were held peacefully and without any objection throughout Chitral, officials said on Tuesday. Not a single incident of violence happened at any of the 265 polling stations where the process continued without any suspension, said an official communiqué.
A number of candidates and political leaders of the district in a meeting with the district police officer (DPO) Chitral Abbas Majeed Marwat appreciated the efforts of the police in maintaining law and order throughout the process, it added.
“Before the elections, a meeting was held with the returning officers, representatives of law-enforcing agencies and intelligence agencies to make the election processes fair and transparent. At the meeting, instructions and guidelines were issue to the members of the Chitral levies and other personnel for the proper utilisation of their services,” said Chitral DPO Abbas Majeed Marwat.