Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM/EXPRESS
"Issues of integrity will be raised if the government gets involved in the printing,” said Dar.
Furthermore, he remarked that “printing more than 500 million ballot papers is not possible in 20 to 25 days.”
However, he said that “the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should do the printing itself,” adding that “it is a very capable institution and should be able to solve the problem.”
“The government will provide support to ECP in terms of funds as well as printing facilities but it will not get involved in the printing itself,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, disagreeing with the government, on Thursday said that “holding of local body elections was the responsibility of the government.”
Speaking on a Point of Order in the National Assembly, he stated that “printing of ballot papers from private press was not acceptable as it would raise question mark on the credibility of ECP.”
Leader of the Opposition further added that “it has been reported by the media that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) was unable to print the ballot papers in a short span of time.”
“If the local body elections would be conducted on the ballot papers printed from the private press the opposition would not accept it and move a resolution in the Parliament,” he categorically said.
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There is always something suspicious when the government has to release a statement saying they won't print the actual election ballots. Shouldn't that be the way it is without having to release a statement?