By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.
GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to hold the upcoming elections under the biometric system.
The decision comes at a time when allegations of widespread rigging in the 2013 general elections are still making the rounds. And though the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has ended its sit-in in Islamabad, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is still adamant to somehow uncover poll fraud, which the party claims is responsible for bringing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz into power,
“The government has taken a decision in this regard to hold elections under the biometric system,” said a minister in the G-B government which completes its five-year term this December.
If the biometrics system is put in place, it is estimated that 200,000 voters of the nearly 1.5 million population of G-B will cast their votes.
According to the minister, Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has asked the chief secretary and election commissioner to make arrangements to ensure this is done. He added the government has held meetings with officials of NADRA, assuring the latter of ensuring availability of funds to meet the expenses.
If the system is introduced, the government is hopeful it will be able to close the doors on parties wishing to use unfair means to win the polls, likely to take place in March 2015.
Chief Minister Mehdi Shah told The Express Tribune his government will ensure elections are held under the new system. “Let things be clear. We are confident we will win if the biometric system is in place.” http://tribune.com.pk/story/790213/fraud-free-g-b-govt-decides-to-hold-polls-under-biometric-system/
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