Testimony: ‘ECP was given 4m unnumbered ballots’

ECP counsel argues that the ballot papers were numbered subsequently

ISLAMABAD: Former managing director of the Postal Foundation Press (PFP), Islamabad has revealed before the inquiry commission probing systematic and organised rigging allegations in the 2013 general elections that 4 million ballot papers, which were without numbering, had been handed over to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

During his cross-examination on Friday, ex-MD Postal Foundation Press Ejaz Ahmed Minhas revealed before the three-judge commission, headed by chief justice Nasirul Mulk, that the press had printed more than 21 million ballot papers, of which 17 million ballots were numbered and 4 million were without numbering, adding that all the ballot papers were handed over to the ECP representatives.

Later on, counsel for the ECP Salman Akram Raja while talking to The Express Tribune said as the Postal Foundation Press was facing shortage of manpower, therefore, 4 million ballot papers were numbered subsequently.

“We will submit the record to show that these 4 million ballot papers were also delivered in the constituencies after the numbering done by the workers of the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press, Islamabad (PCPP),” he added.

During the hearing the chief justice made it clear that they would preferably conclude the proceedings of the commission within 45 days.

When the PTI attorney, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, sought adjournment for one day in next week, the commission’s member justice Amir Hani Muslim observed that they are running short of time as the parties themselves fixed the period of probe to 45 days.

During his cross-examination, the former managing director also stated that PCPP had given the task of printing ballot papers to the Postal Foundation Press as production manager of the PCPP was posted there to oversee the process.

Earlier, ex-MD PCPP Moosa Raza Affandi stated that according to the initial plan, the PCPP was given the task by the ECP to print 10,379,528 ballot papers but after the high court’s verdict in seven National Assembly and five provincial assembly constituencies, this figure increased to more than 109 million ballots.

Later on, the third witness, MD PCPP Lahore, Muhammad Rafique confirmed that the process of printing and delivery of ballots was carried out under the supervision of the ECP and the armed forces officials.

The commission has summoned provincial election commissioner Sindh SM Qadri, MD PCPP, Karachi Muzaffar Ali Chandio and MD Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi Rizwan Ahmed on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2015.