Islamabad, August 19, 2022 (PPI-OT):Regarding the future of ERRA employees, the implementation status of the recommendations issued by the committee in 2020 was reviewed. Senior officials of ERRA told the committee that all the employees of ERRA were recruited on contract and daily wage basis and the employees were dismissed as per law only on expiry of the contract.

Chairman Committee Senator Taj Haider said that since it has been decided to merge ERRA in NDMA and considering the flood situation in the country, we will need trained people of ERRA, so on humanitarian grounds the employees should be reinstated. The ERRA officials informed that decision will be taken in accordance with the law after reviewing the matter in detail at the end of this month in the ERRA board meeting۔

Election Commission officials gave a detailed briefing to the committee on the irregularities found in the voter lists during the recent local bodies and by-elections. Special Secretary Election Commission told the committee that these elections were conducted according to the old voter lists and there are still many loopholes in the electoral system on which the Commission is working with NADRA to further improve the electoral system.

He told the committee that people change their house but due to lack of awareness they do not register their new address in NADRA records due to which problems arise on the election day۔ In order to reduce all these difficulties, the Election Commission has completed the process of door-to-door voter verification and accordingly the new voter lists will be available after September 9.

The secretary the Election Commission said that a system of transmission of election results from the polling stations under a secure RTS system will be introduced in the upcoming elections using modern technology. Timely delivery of signed Form 45 will be facilitated.

Campaigns are being conducted in different regions of the country in collaboration with NADRA for registration of women voters and provision of ID cards. Due to these efforts the number of women voters has increased significantly in the recent local bodies elections. A media campaign has also been launched to create awareness among the general public. Senator Sania Nishtar and other members appreciated the efforts made by the commission in this regard.

Chairman Committee Senator Taj Haider said that the time for the election is very short and it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct a fair and transparent election. The chairman committee directed that the commission should solve all these problems in collaboration with NADRA and if any kind of legislation is required in this regard, the commission should send its recommendations to the committee. Senators, Sania Nishtar, Azam Khan Swati, Kamran Murtaza, ERRA, Election Commission and senior officials of NADRA participated in the committee meeting.

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