ECP making efforts to ensure participation of deprived segments in polls

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Joint Provincial Election Commissioner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aziz Bahadar has said that they are making efforts to ensure the participation of all deprived sections of the society including women in the general elections.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Women Commission here on Monday. Nasreen Khattak was leading the delegation consisting of the Director (Programme) Women Commission Miss Amna Durrani and others.

Deputy Director (Media Coordination) Sohail Ahmed and Assistant Director (Social Inclusion) Syed Ahmed Naqvi were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Aziz Bahadur highlighted the role of observers in holding of transparent elections and added that registered organizations can apply for Accreditation Cards as per prevailing procedure.

He briefed the delegation about the relevant constitutional, legal framework and steps taken by the Election Commission for comprehensive and reliable elections, including the election laws regarding the minorities and marginalized classes of the society and the measures for them.

He said that gender desks are being established in the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad and the office of Provincial Election Commissioner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similarly, the monitoring and control room is also functional, which monitors any complaint and sends it to the office of the concerned District Monitoring Officer for timely action.

The delegation of the Women Commission apprised the Joint Provincial Election Commissioner about the problems related to the low turnout of women voters and their electoral process related steps and asked questions regarding measures taken by the Election Commission and also presented their suggestions in this regard. Nasreen Khattak told that with the assistance of the Election Commission they will monitor pre-poll arrangements in specified districts.

Meawhile, out of 33,048 presiding and senior presiding officers, the training of 23,810 were completed for general election 2024. The Provincial Election Commissioner has taken serious notice of 6.6pc absent staff and contacted the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Chief Secretary directed all the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. The authorities of KP Elmentary and Secondary Education were also summoned at PEC Office with direction to immediately fulfill the shortage of staff and initiated disciplinary proceedings against the absent employees. The training of 1,33,275 assistant presiding and polling officers have already been completed. The training is underway at 125 training centers after it was started from December 25 last and will continue till February 1, 2024.