NADRA and vote verification

Letter August 25, 2016
It is evident in all constituencies that NADRA was asked to process data in line

ISLAMABAD: This is apropos the editorial titled ‘Flaws in NADRA’ (August 23). We appreciate the editorial drawing attention towards the important technical issue of vote verification, besides highlighting the NADRA’s smooth service delivery to the citizens.

In relation to the matter raised in the editorial over the thumb verification of voters, it is pointed out that there is no flaw on the part of NADRA. The organisation is reflecting the actual situation at hand by sharing true facts and figures for vote verification.

As a matter of fact, NADRA acquires fingerprints through digital finger-capturing devices in its offices across the country and its projects. These digital devices help NADRA determine the quality of fingerprint at the time of acquisition which results in the highest possible accuracy during the fingerprint matching process.

In the case of general elections 2013, fingerprints were acquired by the election staff deputed at polling stations using non-standardised ink and paper which were neither trained nor equipped for the purpose. Such fingerprint acquisition method in uncontrolled environments could only result in a large number of fingerprints having insufficient quality to be processed by NADRA during thumb verification processes. It is evident in all constituencies that NADRA was asked to process data in line with the direction of the honourable election tribunals, respectively.

The case in hand of NA-110 is not dissimilar to 44 other constituencies where a number of fingerprints that NADRA could not process, courted of insufficient quality of fingerprints taken on counterfoils on polling day.

Lastly, we would like to reiterate that the highest level of accuracy on thumb verification can only be attained if the specimen for verification are of sufficiently high quality and are carried out by trained staff, which was not done in case of the last general election.

Sarfraz Hussain

Ministry of Interior

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2016.

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