MMA urges CEC to compile separate electoral rolls

* Final electoral rolls to be displayed on March 8

By Mohammad Kamran

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has filed a representation with the chief election commissioner (CEC) urging him to compile separate electoral rolls for Muslims and non-Muslims.

MMA Deputy Parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed met with CEC Irshad Hasan Khan at the latter’s office on Tuesday and asked him to insert the affidavit regarding the declaration of faith vis-a-vis the finality of prophethood in the application forms for registration of new voters in electoral rolls, sources privy to the meeting told Daily Times.

Sources said Mr Ahmed maintained that there should be separate electoral polls for Muslims and non-Muslims irrespective of the fact that the October 10, 2002, elections were held on the basis of a joint electorate.

Mr Ahmed said during the meeting that Qadianis had been declared non-Muslims and it was necessary to mark the difference between them and the Muslims so the declaration of faith in the finality of prophethood should be inserted in the application forms for new voters.

Sources said the CEC promised the MMA leader that his representation would be forwarded to the government and a final decision would be taken on it in due course. “A summary would be sent to the government very soon containing the demand of the MMA for separate electoral rolls,” sources quoted the CEC as telling the MMA leader.

CEC Khan told Mr Ahmed of the steps taken to ensure registration of every eligible person as a voter. He said the election commission was committed to its duty for free, fair and impartial elections in Pakistan. The revision of electoral rolls started throughout the country on January 1 and the deadline for submission of claims and applications regarding registration, amendment and deletion of votes in the electoral list is January 31. The commission would display the final electoral rolls on March 8.

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