Interior Minister Rehman Malik — Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Friday directed the Nadra that printing of error-free preliminary electoral rolls of voters must be completed on top priority, ensuring that it would be fully rectified before the 2013 elections.

Directing Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Ali Arshad Hakim, he asked the Authority to fully assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in completing voters list in pursuance of the directive of Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The minister was chairing a meeting in Islamabad which was attended by Secretary Interior, Nadra Chairman and Deputy Chairman, other senior officers of Interior Ministry and Nadra.

He reviewed the ongoing process of voters registration, although it is a complete responsibility of the constitutional body, ECP, but since this job has been entrusted to the Nadra and this has been questioned in the National Assembly and in pursuance of the undertaking given by the Interior Minister on floor of the House.

The Nadra Chairman briefed the minister and indicated that it would take some time to scan, digitize and print the changes received by ECP as an aftermath of door-to-door verification exercise of ECP.

He briefed that gigantic exercise of printing of error-free preliminary electoral rolls of approximately 84 million voters as per electoral laws of land and business rules of ECP is a complex process.

He was asked to ensure that the voters’ lists being prepared by Nadra were acceptable to all stakeholders.

Rehman Malik also directed to review procedure and point out the grey areas which are being spoiled by criminals and ID card seekers.

The minister noticed with great constraint that some of the elements within Nadra are indulging in corruption which needed to be checked.

Appreciating Nadra for excellent work done, he said they have emerged as one of the top organizations sponsored by the government.

He also lauded the leadership of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Tariq Malik and other regional offices who are functioning to the satisfaction of the government.

The minister praised Nadra for issuing 89 million Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), thus registering 95 per cent of the adult population.

He further directed Nadra to ensure that the remaining 5 per cent CNICs are registered before 2013 election.