Karnataka gears up for first voter roll revision in 23 years, EC to launch drive by Sept 25
Bengaluru: After more than two decades, Karnataka is set to undergo a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls, with the Election Commission (EC) preparing to launch the drive by September 25, Deccan Herald reported on Thursday, citing sources.
The last SIR in the state was carried out in 2002. At the time, Karnataka had approximately 3.5 crore registered voters. That number is now estimated to have grown to around 5.5 crore.
The EC will notify the exact dates for the exercise, which has to be completed within three months once the notification is out.
The revision will be carried out in five phases, which include a crucial period for the hearing of claims and objections. According to the report, once Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) download pre-filled enrolment forms, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door visits, distributing two copies of the forms to households.
During this exercise, all proceedings related to Forms 6 (new voters), Forms 7 (objections), and Form 8 (corrections) will be frozen. One copy of the enrolment form will be retained by the BLO, while the other, with an official acknowledgment, will remain with the applicant. Citizens will also have the option to complete the process digitally via the BLO App or the ECI Net portal.
The EC has reportedly held discussions with political parties and has sought their cooperation. Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from political parties, along with volunteers, will also be involved in the process.
EC sources reportedly said the principle behind the exercise is that “no eligible voter is left out, while no ineligible voter is included”.
However, concerns have been raised over documentation, particularly for senior citizens who may not possess all the required papers. In such cases, the matter will be escalated to the Electoral Registration Officer, with the District Electoral Officer (DEO) holding the final authority on inclusion decisions.
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Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder
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Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.
On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.
In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.
"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.
He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.
The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."
It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.
"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.
It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.
The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.
The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.
TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.
The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.
Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases.
Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.
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