PHOTO: REUTERS
The returning officers (ROs) have yet to provide the records of 106 National Assembly constituencies to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), the inquiry commission looking into the allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections was told on Friday.
The three-judge body, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, has also summoned the current and former secretaries of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday and asked them to record their statements.
Former FAFEN CEO Mudassir Rizvi told the inquiry commission that the organisation had contacted the ROs, seeking forms XIV (Statement of the Count), XV (Ballot Paper Account), XVI (Consolidation of Statements of the Count) and XVII (Result of the Count). “Out of 267 constituencies, the ROs have provided records of 161.”
Rizvi said FAFEN had then submitted a request to the ECP, but no action was taken. “Last month the ombudsman had directed the ECP to provide the relevant records to FAFEN, but the organisation is yet to receive them.”
He also said that out of 264 constituencies, the result of 218 was in accordance with their survey, which was conducted before the general elections. “In 118 constituencies, the margin between the winners and the runners-up was very close.”
Rizvi said 12 criminal cases were registered against FAFEN in Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan after the elections. “Though we haven’t received any threats, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had called me to express his anger over FAFEN’s report on NA-122.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had lost the NA-122 (Lahore-V) constituency to Sadiq of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Ever since NADRA pointed out some discrepancies in its forensic report on the constituency, which was made public earlier this month, the PTI has been viewing it as “evidence” of rigging.
Rizvi said the organisation had prepared four different reports in connection with the polling and election result. “FAFEN had later given its recommendations for electoral reforms.”
Meanwhile, PTI’s counsel Abdul Hafiz Pirzada has submitted an application for seeking the record of forms XIV, XV, XVI and XVII, as well as the election scheme in different constituencies.
Salman Akram Raja, counsel for the ECP, ensured that all required data would be provided to the PTI. “However, all the form XVs are in the polling bags, which could not be opened without the election tribunal’s orders.”
But Pirzada said form XV does not go in the polling bags. The inquiry commission asked Raja to submit the ECP’s reply on the PTI’s plea on Saturday (today).
Form XV is prepared by the presiding officer. It carries statistics about the number of ballot papers entrusted to him and those taken out from the ballot boxes and counted, besides the number of tendered, challenged and spoilt ballots.
Submitting an additional list of witnesses, the PTI has requested the inquiry body to summon ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob, former ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, the Balochistan election commissioner, the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Islamabad secretary and eight NADRA officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2015.
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