ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (NNN-APP) — The nation goes to the polls Monday to elect a national assembly and four provincial legislatures through a free, fair and transparent election to complete the third phase of transition to full democracy.
The Election Commission has made countrywide foolproof arrangements to conduct the election described by President Pervez Musharraf as “mother of all elections that are highly important for the future of our country.”
The government has made extensive arrangements across the country to ensure safe and secure environment for more than 80 million registered voters to exercise their right to vote.
Police and rangers backed up by the Army will maintain law and order during and after the crucial vote.
Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told PTV 95 battalions of Army have been deployed in sensitive and very sensitive areas in the four provinces to assist maintenance of law and order.
“Army will not interfere or have any role in the conduct of the elections which is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission,” he said.
Maj-Gen Abbas said a total of 81,000 personnel of civil armed forces and Army have been deployed.
All major political parties including Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) are participating in the parliamentary election, the second under President Musharraf’s agenda for democracy to take roots in the country.
The President reiterated Thursday his pledge to the nation for a free, fair and transparent and peaceful elections, urging the nation to turn out and elect their representatives.
“The stage is set with all arrangements in place for the momentous event,” Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said.
A number of improvements have been made in the electoral mechanism for the forthcoming elections.
For the first time 4.3 million transparent ballot boxes imported from China will be used at all 64,176 polling stations already notified on the Election Commission’s website.
Special voting screens have been arranged by the Commission which also put on its website computerized electoral rolls as well as list of all polling stations.
In a significant departure from the past practice, the Returning Officers will announce results at their respective polling stations on the basis of vote counts received from polling stations.
The election campaigning was affected by tragic assassination of PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27 and two days of riots that followed it. This month terrorists targeted some election rallies in the North West Frontier Province.
In view of the security situation and threat of terrorism, the government has provided adequate security to political leaders and strict security arrangements have also been made at their rallies.
The electioneering greatly picked up in the week before the polls with political leaders addressing a string of public meetings in different parts of the country.
The campaigning will grind to a halt on the night between Saturday and Sunday for 48-hour cooling off span ahead of the voting day.
Officials said more than 500 international observers have reached Pakistan to monitor the polls while more are expected to arrive before the polling day. The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the task of the observers.
“We have instructed our officers throughout the country to facilitate them to the maximum to ensure that they can monitor the election process,” Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said.
The Election Commission has been conducting an awareness campaign through print and electronic media to inform the electors about the importance of vote and how to exercise it and their rights and responsibilities.
It has not only introduced new electoral commodities but also, with the assistance of UNDP and other organizations, arranged a comprehensive orientation programme for all election officials, including district returning officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers. — NNN-APP