PTI’s demand: NADRA refuses to replace its DG

To carry out verification of NA-122 election material

ISLAMABAD:

Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has rejected PTI chairman’s demand to replace Director General (data) based on Imran’s lack of confidence in his critical role of verification of thumb impression in NA-122.

A source in NADRA told The Express Tribune that Chairman Nadra Usman Yousuf  Mobeen has turned down the demand of the chairman PTI to replace the DG (data) NADRA, on the ground that any officer cannot be removed or replaced without any solid reason or ample proof of allegations against him.



Chairman NADRA in response to the letter of Imran Khan, wrote that NADRA is carrying out verification of election material for the NA-122 constituency under directions of Election Tribunal, Lahore.

He said that NADRA understands that verification exercises performed under the direction of Election Tribunals are critical in nature thus it tries its best to ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are followed by all concerned individuals working on this project.

“Mr Muzzafar Ali has been the DG of the National Data Warehouse since 2007. He has been involved in all election tribunal related verifications since General Elections 2013 and, with his team, he has produced 38 reports so far. Previously there have not been any objections regarding his role,” he noted.

The NADRA chief further writes: “We have carefully examined your request and appreciate your concerns. We would like to request you to provide evidence or proofs so that we are able to take necessary action in this matter”.

Earlier, PTI chairman Imran Khan on April 16 had written a letter to the chairman NADRA saying that The Election Tribunal (Punjab) Lahore, vide its order of April 3, 2015,  had allowed his application for verification of thumb impression of electors of NA 122 through NADRA.

The letter further adds that NADRA is currently in the process of understanding this exercise and recently issued its pre-screening report.

The PTI chairman further stated “I am writing to bring to your urgent notice that according to reliable sources, Mr Muzzafar Ali, DG (data) is being put under immense pressure by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the contesting respondent in my election petition in order to manipulate and alter the results of the thumb verification exercise. The same is being carried out in a non-transparent and opaque manner”.

Imran stated that in the circumstances, given the senior position of this officer, he is clearly in a position to exercise undue influence and prejudice the thumb verification process. I request that in the interest of justice, propriety and fair play, Muzzaffar Ali be replaced immediately by an objective and independent officer of unblemished repute and that the thumb verification process of NA 122 be carried out and completed under the overall supervision and direction of such officer. The chairman PTI also sought that chairman NADRA should personally be involved in monitoring the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2015.