In a press conference, Secretary said the commission has written letters to Secretary Ministry of Defence and Corps Commander Karachi to assist the Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC) in carrying out re-verification exercise in the metropolitan city. Now, PEC would meet the Corps Commander to deploy the army for the security of the staff deputed for re-verification of voters.
Responding to a question, secretary said provincial government of Sindh already agreed to put 18,000 provincial government's employees at the disposal of PEC in this connection. He further elaborated that this huge manpower is required for re-verification of 6.8 million registered voters of city having 13,622 census blocks.
He further revealed that the Commission decided to carry out the delimitation in Karachi after reviewing the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Delimitation Act. The Commission further directed the Provincial Election Commission to prepare a comprehensive plan of the delimitation of Karachi within two-week. He said that plan would be produced before the apex court for consideration.
Responding to a question, secretary said 15 political parties agreed to the delimitation of Karachi. "I came to know through TV talk shows that MQM also has no objection on the directives of the Supreme Court," he said. Secretary further said that the Commission disposed of all complaints received against display of weapons and other violation of code of conduct in recently held by-elections on nine seats. As the complaints were general in nature and without evidence required under Section 103 AA of Representative People Act 1976, the commission decided to dispose them of without taking any action, he maintained.
To a question, he said provincial governments were, however, been asked to take action against accused who displayed weapons during the by-election in some constituencies. The accused were under arrest at present, he said. He further mentioned that Minister for Law and Justice, Farooq H Naek had called on Chief Election Commissioner and technical matters related to announcement of the date of election were also discussed along with other agenda items. He said if Assemblies were dissolved after March 16- end of the fifth parliamentary year- the Commission would start its work immediately, not wait for the date to be announced for election. If they are dissolved earlier, then President would announce the date of the election, he said. "The government in consultation with ECP would announce the schedule for general election, he said.
Secretary said the Commission has convened a meeting of chief secretaries of provinces and Inspectors General of Police on January 2. The Commission would do assessment pertaining to requirement of Army, Rangers and Police on the basis of information provided by the provinces regarding security of polling stations. The provincial government would provide a security plan to ECP for the protection of 80,000 polling stations. "I think army will be deployed in Karachi, Fata and some sensitive areas of Balochistan in general election", he said.
To a question related to no-confidence of some of political parties on PEC Sindh, secretary replied all the political parties showed confidence in CEC and they could not make happy everybody at the same time. He said the Commission received comments of political parties on new code of conduct to be observed in general election and these would be taken in the upcoming Senate's Standing Committee on Election.