Prime Minister appeals to all political parties to identify unregistered voters

Islamabad: August 18, 2012

Mr. Muhammad Tariq Malik, Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Prime Minister’s House today and briefed him about the progress made so far regarding issuance of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the citizens.

The Prime Minister was informed that 452 National Registration Centres, 252 Mobile Registration Vans and 70 Semi-Mobile Units are working throughout the country for registering adults in remote and far flung areas. Special arrangements have been made for registration of women. In this connection he said that Friday has been dedicated for registration of women adults and eleven NADRA centres with female only staff are facilitating women in acquiring CNICs.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Chairman NADRA who informed him that they have so far managed to register 99.5 % of voters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, 99% in Punjab, 89% in Gilgit-Baltistan while 88% in Sindh and FATA. In Balochistan only 76% of population have been registered so far.

The Prime Minister appealed to all political parties to help NADRA identify unregistered adults voters who do not have CNICs.

The Prime Minister said that the political parties should cooperate with the Government as CNIC is mandatory for casting of vote in the next elections.

The Prime Minister directed Chairman NADRA to launch an awareness campaign to persuade people to get CNICs so that they are not disenfranchised.

The Prime Minister said that the Government is committed to hold free, fair and impartial elections and NADRA should therefore ensure that all registered voters have CNICs before the next elections.