Poll rigging probe: PTI seeks NADRA analysis reports before April 15

The party wants to submit findings of at least 37 constituencies to the inquiry commission

ISLAMABAD:

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has sought analysis reports from the country’s top registration authority in respect of at least 37 constituencies for submitting them before the recently constituted inquiry commission to probe allegations of systematic and organised rigging in the May 2013 general elections.

PTI general secretary Jahangir Tareen has written a letter to the chairman of the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA), Usman Yousaf Mobeen, seeking a full set of its analysis reports before April 15. A copy of the letter is available with The Express Tribune.

The letter reads: “NADRA will be aware, the General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission has recently been constituted pursuant to the General Elections Inquiry Commission Ordinance 2015 and the first public hearing of the commission will be held on April 16,” adding that the commission has already sought proposals and material from all the political parties.

It further says that NADRA has been directed from time to time by various election tribunals established to hear and decide election petitions in relation to general elections 2013 to prepare and submit reports, in which thumb impressions on counterfoils (electoral rolls) have been compared with the record of all citizens in the NADRA database and other forensic analysis has also been undertaken by NADRA.

“PTI understands that to date, NADRA has prepared and submitted NADRA analysis reports in respect of at least 37 constituencies (of both the National [Assembly] and provincial assemblies) from across Pakistan. These NADRA analysis reports are public documents,” the letter points out.

It adds that the PTI wishes to submit to the commission these reports prepared by NADRA on April 15.

The PTI has requested NADRA to supply certified copies of all its reports urgently prior to April 15. The party also offers that it will bear the total cost of photocopying and other expenses incurred in provision of these reports.

“PTI is sanguine that NADRA will comply with this request as public documents are being sought to which it is clearly entitled. Moreover, PTI may also underscore that in terms of Article 19-A of the Constitution, right to information is the fundamental right and every citizen has been conferred a fundamental right to have access to information in all matters of public importance.”

The letter describes that public importance of the matter is self-evident and needs no elaboration. Besides, Article 19–A of the Constitution, even otherwise NADRA is under a mandatory duty in pursuant the provision of the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2000 reads with the Freedom of Information rules 2004 to promptly give access to the NADRA analysis reports and not to deny such access.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2015.