War of the titans: ECP says it used NADRA specified ink in polls

Judicial Commission probe heightens tussle between govt departments

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) once again jumped into the controversy of ink used during the 2013 general elections and has put the blame on NADRA.

The ECP in a statement on Thursday, refuted  claims of a NADRA official that it used  ink which was rejected by his department (ECP).

The tussle between the two government entities had heated up once again at a time when a high powered judicial commission is investigating allegations of rigging into the May 11, 2013 general elections.

ECP is at the core of this controversy while NADRA is closely linked to the pre-polls process as it helps ECP compile computerised electoral rolls and assists tribunals in establishing authenticity of voters who polled their votes in the post polls vote audit.

Syed Muzaffar Ali, Director General, NADRA has reportedly filed an affidavit in an Election Tribunal stating that the Election Commission of Pakistan used the ink which was rejected by NADRA during thr general elections in 2013.

The ECP said NADRA recommended the specification for the magnetised ink which was communicated to the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), another government body which was tasked to provide the ink.

Magnetized ink was supposed to be used to get a thumb impression of every voter on a counterfoil of the ballot paper. The step was taken to help audit  votes by comparing the thumb impression of a voter with NADRA’s database. However, the move backfired and fomented a controversy when NADRA could not read 70 percent of the thumb impressions in over 30 cases sent to it by post election tribunals.



ECP claims that PCSIR confirmed that they had manufactured the magnetized ink in accordance with the specification of NADRA and that the same was delivered to the respective Provincial Election Commissioners.

It says the Provincial Election Commissioners also confirmed they received the same magnetised ink and it was delivered to all respective Returning Officers.

“The Election Commission was responsible for delivery of the magnetized ink to the Returning Officer prepared by PCSIR in accordance with the specifications recommended by NADRA and it fulfilled its obligations” an ECP statement claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2015.