Printing of ballot papers to complete by Feb 2: ECP

• Commission has started delivering ballot papers.
• Help from security personnel sought for delivery.
• At least 3 govt press institutes printing papers.

ISLAMABAD: As the date of the general elections nears, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it will complete the printing of ballot papers by February 2, The News reported on Tuesday.

On the other hand, the electoral body has also begun the delivery of ballot papers through security personnel simultaneously across all provinces in the country.

Preparations for the February 8 polls, according to ECP spokesperson, are taking place in full swing. At least three government press institutes are printing ballot papers at the moment, with the process continuing "satisfactorily", the spokesperson added.

"The printing work, which started on January 16 after the allotment of election symbols by returning officers (ROs), will be completed in the next four days, i.e. by February 2," the ECP official said.

He added that returning officers (ROs) and district administrations have started the delivery of ballot papers for the four provinces with the help of security agencies. The papers are being delivered via both road and air.

Apart from this, he pointed out that the 8300 SMS service has also been provided to the general public to get information about their polling station among other information from January 29, 2024.

Voters will have to send their identity card number to 8300 to get their vote information. All voters have been requested to get details of their and their family’s vote on time so that they do not face any problems in finding polling stations.

Meanwhile, the commission has so far completed the training of 970,000 polling staff out of 976,000 required polling staff, which is 96% of the total required number. The training of the remaining 6,000 polling personnel will be completed in the next four days.

Separately, taking immediate notice of the news circulating in some sections of media today, according to which a group of Ulema in Kohistan has allegedly issued a fatwa banning women from campaigning, the commission immediately sought a report from the district monitoring officer, Kohistan Upper, who clarified in his report that the news was not true and this was a result of misconception.

However, the spokesman said the commission wanted to make it clear that if a woman was prevented from campaigning or voting in the constituency concerned during the upcoming elections, it would take action under Section 9 of the Elections Act and the process of elections in that constituency could also be declared null and void.

Meanwhile, the ECP has also taken note of incidents of clashes and firing between two political parties in Karachi over flag hoisting and snatching of postal ballots in the Swabi district. The commission has sought reports from the chief secretary and the IG concerned so that action can be taken against those involved in these incidents under election laws.