ECP’s Drive Aims to Increase Women’s Turnout

APP

Islamabad: Special Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Zafar Iqbal said on Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan continued a media awareness drive among people with the overarching goal of motivating women and youth actively involved in the electoral process, where youngsters of the country are likely to double their voter turnout in upcoming elections.

Speaking to the PTV news channel, he ensured that the ECP will provide a level playing field for all political parties and advocate the active involvement of youth and women to ensure inclusivity in the electoral process.

He said that elections will be conducted with strict implementation of gender equality, and all political parties will strive hard through their election campaigns to increase youth voter turnout.

He also mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a comprehensive code of conduct for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.

Additional Director General of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Syed Nadeem Haider, said that any violation of the code will be treated seriously, and allegations made by one candidate against another will require confirmation from both sides before prosecution can commence.

To ensure the smooth functioning of the election process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has complete powers to conduct general elections in a fair and freestyle manner while all the institutions, including the military, judiciary, and provincial governments, are fully cooperating with us.

Replying to a question related to security arrangements, Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal said that ECP has constituted monitoring teams and appointed district coordination officers or equivalent officers (such as deputy commissioners or political agents in tribal areas) as district monitoring officers for the coming general elections in the country.

With the coordination of the Interior Ministry, the ECP would provide all types of strict security forces for the protection of voters in polling stations in the country, he added.