‘Rigging’ in NA-125: Rafique’s constituency: 149,000 voters unverified
Nadra submits report about verification of voter thumb impressions and counterfoils in SC
The report also stated that there were 398 CNIC numbers mentioned on 797 counterfoils being used more than once. Around 996 used counterfoils were found without having fingerprints on them. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that thumb impressions of 149,139 voters could not be verified in the NA-125 constituency because of insufficient quality of fingerprints.
On January 26, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali directed Nadra to submit a report about verification of voter thumb impressions and counterfoils in Lahore’s NA-125 constituency, where Railways Minister Saad Rafique of the PML-N had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Hamid Khan in the 2013 general elections.
Rafique filed the petition against the decision of an election tribunal that had deseated him from the National Assembly and ordered re-polling in the constituency in May last year.
Nadra submitted that 7,892 counterfoils did not qualify for fingerprint matching in the constituency due to numerous reasons.
There were 206,242 voters, wherein the thumb impressions of 149,139 voters could not be processed through AFIS (Automated Finger Identification System) because of insufficient quality of fingerprints for the purpose of automated fingerprint comparison. However, the CNIC numbers mentioned on such counterfoils having poor quality of thumb impressions were valid CNICs.
The report also said that the thumb impressions of 57,098 voters have been authenticated by AFIS. This means that the fingerprints affixed on counterfoils at the time of issuance of ballot papers correctly matched with the fingerprint data of registered voters held with Nadra.
In 3,189 counterfoils, the CNIC number was derived in conjunction with the voter serial number mentioned over counterfoils. A total of five votes failed the authentication test, which means that someone else voted against the NIC number mentioned on the used counterfoil.
The report said there were 3,998 used counterfoils where the identity of a voter could not be established being an invalid CNIC number mentioned on the counterfoil. It further said that there were 1,917 used counterfoils, which do not have CNIC number mentioned on them, adding there were 184 used counterfoils belonging to voters which were not registered in NA-125.
The report also stated that there were 398 CNIC numbers mentioned on 797 counterfoils being used more than once. Around 996 used counterfoils were found without having fingerprints on them.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2016.
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that thumb impressions of 149,139 voters could not be verified in the NA-125 constituency because of insufficient quality of fingerprints.
On January 26, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali directed Nadra to submit a report about verification of voter thumb impressions and counterfoils in Lahore’s NA-125 constituency, where Railways Minister Saad Rafique of the PML-N had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Hamid Khan in the 2013 general elections.
Rafique filed the petition against the decision of an election tribunal that had deseated him from the National Assembly and ordered re-polling in the constituency in May last year.
Nadra submitted that 7,892 counterfoils did not qualify for fingerprint matching in the constituency due to numerous reasons.
There were 206,242 voters, wherein the thumb impressions of 149,139 voters could not be processed through AFIS (Automated Finger Identification System) because of insufficient quality of fingerprints for the purpose of automated fingerprint comparison. However, the CNIC numbers mentioned on such counterfoils having poor quality of thumb impressions were valid CNICs.
The report also said that the thumb impressions of 57,098 voters have been authenticated by AFIS. This means that the fingerprints affixed on counterfoils at the time of issuance of ballot papers correctly matched with the fingerprint data of registered voters held with Nadra.
In 3,189 counterfoils, the CNIC number was derived in conjunction with the voter serial number mentioned over counterfoils. A total of five votes failed the authentication test, which means that someone else voted against the NIC number mentioned on the used counterfoil.
The report said there were 3,998 used counterfoils where the identity of a voter could not be established being an invalid CNIC number mentioned on the counterfoil. It further said that there were 1,917 used counterfoils, which do not have CNIC number mentioned on them, adding there were 184 used counterfoils belonging to voters which were not registered in NA-125.
The report also stated that there were 398 CNIC numbers mentioned on 797 counterfoils being used more than once. Around 996 used counterfoils were found without having fingerprints on them.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2016.