Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region to use biometric voter identification in upcoming elections

Gilgit–Baltistan, the northernmost administrative territory of Pakistan, has decided to implement a biometrics system to cut down on voter fraud in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections.

According to a report from The Express Tribune, Mehdi Shah, G-B’s first Chief Minister, asked the chief secretary and election commissioner to make arrangements to ensure the new system is ready for the next election. His government has also held meetings with officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (or “NADRA”) to ensure the project has adequate funding.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, an opposing political party, has claimed that poll fraud led to the election of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party.

The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan and Nadra had previously announced that computerised electoral rolls would be used in the GBLA elections.

Prior to the 2013 national elections, NADRA had been instructed to issue Computerized national identity cards (or “CNICs”) all unregistered citizens to ensure all eligible voters would be able to vote in the country’s upcoming elections.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  fraud prevention  |  Pakistan  |  voter identification