On Wednesday, the Supreme Court asked the country's electoral body to enlist the army and paramilitary forces to help verify controversial electoral rolls in Karachi ahead of the polls. Karachi is in the grip of a long-running wave of political and sectarian violence and objections have been raised over voter lists ahead of elections due in May next year.
The CEC said that recently held bye-elections in Punjab and Sindh, dual nationality issue, and delimitation in Karachi and other important administrative matters will also be discussed. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has taken serious notice of the incessant firing with lethal weapons at the houses of winning candidates in recent bye-elections in various constituencies.
In this regard, an FIR was registered against persons involved in firing in Sialkot and three accused persons were arrested and weapons were recovered from them. The Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab, has also been directed to contact the Chief Secretary, Punjab, DCOs of the respective cities to lodge First Information Reports (FIR) against culprits involved in firing. An ECP official said that a letter had been sent to various TV channels for sending footage of the firing so that serious action could be taken against political parties involved in violating the election code of conduct.