By Asim Ghumman
ISLAMABAD: For the first time, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in collaboration with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has made it mandatory for the Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) to ensure registration of transgender persons and people-with-disabilities at their doorstep and include them in political processes.
This was stated by Nighat Siddique, Director General Gender Affairs, ECP here at Lok Virsa during the 2nd day of 15th Annual Rural Women Conference organized by Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) here Friday.
However, there are other facilities like preferential voting procedure and postal ballot facility which can be used actively by old people, transgender persons and people-with-disabilities, she told.
The rural women representing 120 districts of the country urged all political parties to allocate 50 percent ticket to women candidates in elections from national, provincial to local level.
PODA-Pakistan has been organizing annual rural women conference since 2008 in connection with the International Rural Women Day that is observed on 15th of October every year. The conference provides platform to rural women and their leadership to bring their issues and solutions on the front vocally for change to reduce gender gap in every sphere of life.
This is the consecutive 15th conference in which rural women from 120 districts of the country have gathered urging policymakers to optimize women’s role and contributions in the overall progress of the country.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Interior Thursday advised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the elections in a “cautious” manner, warning of terrorist activities that might take place during the by-polls.
The October 16 by-elections are scheduled to take place in eight constituencies — NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-237 Malir and NA-239 Karachi.
Earlier this month, the ministry had written a letter to the commission seeking a delay of 90 days as security personnel were busy in flood relief works and it was feared that a certain party would “besiege” the federal capital.
The ministry had earlier this month written a letter to the commission seeking a delay of 90 days as security personnel were busy in flood relief works and it was feared that a certain party would “besiege” the federal capital.
“It is feared that the political leadership coming into Punjab will be targetted. The by-elections should be held in a cautious manner,” the ministry’s letter said.
The letter mentioned that nationalist parties belonging to Sindh and Balochistan could engage in terrorist activities in Karachi — where local body elections will be held on October 23.
The ministry said that it would not be possible for the police alone to control the law and order situation during the by-polls — and the armed forces, as well as other law enforcement agencies, were busy in flood relief works.
The ministry added that in some provinces, the police’s actions showed partiality. Also, it noted that currently, the country’s political temperature was high and the “workers of all political parties are charged”.
The interior ministry added that terrorists have increased their activities in Karachi and Punjab after the deadly floods.
“At this moment, the army and para-military forces are busy in flood relief operations. A surge has been witnessed in the activities of terrorists and extremists,” the ministry said.
It noted that as compared to 2021, there was an increase of 52% in terrorism-related activities during the ongoing year.
Citing reports released by intelligence agencies, the ministry revealed that terrorists are present in Swat, Mardan, Peshawar, Tank, and Lakki Marwat.
It was further mentioned that the officials of law enforcement agencies, government allies, and members of peace committees are being targeted.
The ministry highlighted that there has been a significant increase in Khyber Pakhtunkwa as a result of which 222 incidents of terrorism have been reported in the last three months.
“Since June, terrorists have been entering Pakistan through secret routes on the Afghanistan border and Taliban have facilitated TTP through these secret routes,” the letter read.
