Rigging inquiry: PTI also made gains from extra ballots, says PML-N

Cross-examination of former election commissioner of Punjab completed

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has pointed out to the judicial commission probing organised rigging in 2013 elections that many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates won in constituencies where extra ballot papers were printed.

Former election commissioner of Punjab Mehboob Anwar, in his cross-examination before the tribunal, had admitted printing extra ballots on the request of returning officers (ROs) in many constituencies across the province.



On Thursday, the ruling party’s counsel identified many such constituencies where key leaders of the PTI, which alleges the PML-N came into power through massive, organised electoral rigging, had emerged victorious.

Earlier, PTI’s attorney Abdul Hafiz Pirzada had listed a number of constituencies won by PML-N leaders wherein a large number of extra ballot papers were sent on the demand of ROs.

PML-N counsel Shahid Hamid presented the documentary evidence from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) before the tribunal.

In NA-53, Hamid told the three-judge panel, headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, the total number of voters was around 382,015 but more than 454,000 ballot papers were printed. PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar won in the constituency.

However, he was unaware that the serving interior minister from the PML-N was the opponent of Sarwar when asked by PTI counsel Pirzada.

The PML-N counsel added that in NA-150 Multan, where PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi emerged victorious, the registered voters were around 373,000 but 400,000 ballots had been printed for the constituency.



He said that PTI leader Asad Umar was declared the winning candidate in NA-48 Islamabad, where voters were around 294,000 but around 320,000 ballot papers were printed.

Hamid also spoke about NA-72 Mianwali, wherein the total voters were 371,374 but 402,100 ballot papers were printed. PTI’s Amjad Ali Khan won this constituency.

In NA-34 also, Jamaat-e- Islami candidate Sahabzada Yaqoob was declared victorious but the total voters in this constituency were 504,000 whereas 588,000 ballot papers had been printed.

Three more summoned

Meanwhile, as the cross-examination of ex-PEC Punjab Anwar was completed, the tribunal summoned three more witnesses on Friday (today)

Anwar has confirmed the delivery of ballot papers was delayed in some constituencies due to the restraining orders of the court. He also said the requisition of ballot papers by the district returning officers and the ROs came after April 19.

He admitted the election commission had asked the printing presses to print ballots prior to the requisition of ROs. Therefore, the final requisition of printing ballot papers was different from the estimate done before.

Everything about printing and delivery of ballot papers was done according to the plan, Anwar said, but some mistakes were committed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.