ECP asks NADRA to help verify voters' thumbprints

NADRA to improve system in two weeks time to match huge number of thumbprints with its database.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to help verify votes by matching thumbprints with its database, said ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed on Monday.

Ahmed was addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with NADRA chairman Tariq Malik.

Malik, while speaking to media, said the database authority currently does not have the system to verify the huge amount of thumbprints. However, he said that it will achieve the ability to do so in two weeks time.

He further added that thumbprints can only be verified if a certain type of ink – earlier specified to the ECP – was used.

Explaining the tedious process of thumbprint verification, Malik said that each thumb impression will be manually verified.

He said the cost of verification will be shared by the interim government and the electoral candidates.

The ECP secretary added that with the required system improvement in place, NADRA will be able to verify 500,000 votes per day.