Thumb impressions: Ruling on NA-122 verification on March 4

Counsel for Ayaz Sadiq says PTI is using delaying tactics.

LAHORE: An election tribunal reserved judgement on Friday on an application filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking verification of thumb impressions on ballot counterfoils using NADRA data.

Counsel for PTI chairman Imran Khan in his application had said some of the ballot papers issued to several polling stations were suspect.

He said for some polling stations packing invoices were issued twice and serial numbers on the invoices did not match those on Form 15.

Moreover, he said, a large number of Form 15s had no serial numbers. He said the actual record of the constituency had been destroyed. He asked the court to pass an order for verification of thumb impressions.

The counsel for NA speaker submitted that the PTI was using delaying tactics. Asjad Saeed Advocate implored that the case had reached the final arguments stage but the PTI had yet again submitted another application, although the court had already disposed of PTI’s two pleas.

Advocates Khawaja Saeed-uz-Zafar and Barrister Asjad Saeed, counsel for National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told the court that the application was not maintainable.

Advocate Asjad said the PTI was wasting the court’s time.

The court reserved its ruling till March 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2015.