PTI files petition in Supreme Court against rigging in NA-118
The petition accuses the ruling PML-N and NADRA for tampering with polled votes.
The petition pleaded for the prosecution of those responsible for tampering. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the alleged tampering of polled votes from NA-118, Lahore, in the May 11 elections last year.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had allegedly opened dozens of sealed ballot bags of NA-118 to tamper with the polled votes, officials claimed.
PTI’s counsel Hamid Khan presented the petition on Tuesday requesting the court to ensure the ballot boxes from four constituencies involved in the rigging controversy remain safe in NADRA’s custody. The ballot boxes were at NADRA for thumb verification.
It further asked that a local commissioner be appointed to oversee the bags till NADRA releases its final report on thumb verification.
The petition also pleaded for the prosecution of those responsible for tampering.
With reference to a report in the media, the petition further stated that the election material was being tampered with clandestinely under NADRA’s custody to match the results with those declared in May last year.
The petition went on to also accuse the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) for the tampering. It further alleged that PML-N’s government removed former NADRA chairman Tariq Malik to facilitate fraud through officials of the authority.
“The new NADRA chairman Imtiaz Tajwar is a puppet in the hands of the party in power and is tampering with the election materials to please his bosses who had him appointed in that position,” the petition stated.
Furthermore, Election Tribunal Multan ordered for the thumb verification of polled votes in NA-154. This order was upheld by the apex court on June 6, 2014. Following the order, ballot boxes are to be moved to NADRA headquarters in Islamabad to carry out thumb verification.
However, the PTI expressed apprehension that the election material is not safe in NADRA’s custody.
“The matter of averting and preempting the tampering of election materials is of urgent nature and an appropriate order ought to be passed in order to ensure the safety and proper custody of such materials with NADRA,” it stated.
On May 8, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit a response within 15 days over PTI’s plea regarding the verification of thumb impressions in the four constituencies. However, the commission has yet to file the report.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the alleged tampering of polled votes from NA-118, Lahore, in the May 11 elections last year.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had allegedly opened dozens of sealed ballot bags of NA-118 to tamper with the polled votes, officials claimed.
PTI’s counsel Hamid Khan presented the petition on Tuesday requesting the court to ensure the ballot boxes from four constituencies involved in the rigging controversy remain safe in NADRA’s custody. The ballot boxes were at NADRA for thumb verification.
It further asked that a local commissioner be appointed to oversee the bags till NADRA releases its final report on thumb verification.
The petition also pleaded for the prosecution of those responsible for tampering.
With reference to a report in the media, the petition further stated that the election material was being tampered with clandestinely under NADRA’s custody to match the results with those declared in May last year.
The petition went on to also accuse the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) for the tampering. It further alleged that PML-N’s government removed former NADRA chairman Tariq Malik to facilitate fraud through officials of the authority.
“The new NADRA chairman Imtiaz Tajwar is a puppet in the hands of the party in power and is tampering with the election materials to please his bosses who had him appointed in that position,” the petition stated.
Furthermore, Election Tribunal Multan ordered for the thumb verification of polled votes in NA-154. This order was upheld by the apex court on June 6, 2014. Following the order, ballot boxes are to be moved to NADRA headquarters in Islamabad to carry out thumb verification.
However, the PTI expressed apprehension that the election material is not safe in NADRA’s custody.
“The matter of averting and preempting the tampering of election materials is of urgent nature and an appropriate order ought to be passed in order to ensure the safety and proper custody of such materials with NADRA,” it stated.
On May 8, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit a response within 15 days over PTI’s plea regarding the verification of thumb impressions in the four constituencies. However, the commission has yet to file the report.