Pakistan

Over 11m extra ballot papers printed in 2013 general elections: ECP

6.89 per cent extra ballot papers were printed in the last elections

Hasnaat Mailk May 16, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday informed the Inquiry Commission that 11,725,728 extra ballot papers were printed in the May 2013 general elections.

Read: Testimony: ‘ECP was given 4m unnumbered ballots’

The ECP submitted the data regarding the printing of extra ballot papers since the past seven years, a copy of which The Express Tribune has obtained:

6.89 per cent extra ballot papers were printed in the last elections.

Further, the document also states that the highest number ‘extra’ ballot papers were printed in 1988’s General Elections.

Read: Judicial commission: After PTI, PML-N identifies constituencies with extra ballots

14,660,869 extra ballot papers were printed in the elections of 1990. In 1993, only 3.52 per cent extra ballot papers were printed, which is the least as compared to all other general elections.

10,086,725 extra ballot papers were printed in 1997 and 11,059,310 extra ballot papers were printed in 2002.

In the 2008 elections, 11,115,911 extra ballot papers were printed.

COMMENTS (11)

Enemy of MUNAFIQs | 9 years ago | Reply DemocraZy ! Anyone can let me know why the extra ballots are required in a country where election turnout never exceed 70 percent ? How the ROs / POs use these extra ballots ?

AH | 9 years ago | Reply 0.1 m polling stations across Pakistan. 1 book contains 100 pages of ballot papers. 0.1m * 100 = 10 million additional ballot papers. 1 extra book for every polling station. Let the cry babies cry, this no. of additional ballot papers were always printed in all earlier elections and will always be printed in all elections to come. Let the cry babies cry, additional ballot papers does not necessarily mean rigging.

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AH | 9 years ago | Reply @Shahid Ahmed: Ask this to Imran Khan. He was putting allegations against them daily, and when it mattered the most in front of the JC, he did not submit their names as witnesses. This is as clear for those who have eyes to see and sane mind to understand.

Shazia Bangash | 9 years ago | Reply Election-day turnout in Pakistan nnever even touches 60% - so even printing as many ballot papers as there are voters leaves millions of extra ballots that can be manipulated. But printing 11 million more than even the entire voting population boggles the mind and can only be explained by an intent to rig the elections.

chengez k | 9 years ago | Reply This is solid proof that not only 2013 but all previous elections were systematically rigged. They should also publish the seat wise distribution of these additional ballots so to identify the true beneficiaries.

Lord of the Ring | 9 years ago | Reply Extra ballot papers eventually turned into extra votes for NawaZardari corruption parties

Shahid Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply @ Pakistani. A systematic rigging is very systametic. It's just like money laundering. You have to follow the trail till the end. It will be intersting to know what constituencies got how many extra ballot papers. The above figures are overall, but, let's say for example, how many extra ballot papers went to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq's constituency vs any other not so important MNA's.. Listen to what Makdoum Faheem said in his TV interview, that Mr. Iftikhar Choudhry himself visited his electoral constituency and spent time with the RO's & PO's. All the ROs and POs were under the direct appointment/supervision of the supreme court. A big question now is that why not Justice Ramda or Iftikhar Choudhry brought as witnesses in front of Judicial Commision when they had allegations against them as well.

Ahmad Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Where is Mehmood Khan Achakzai. It looks like that he has retired from protecting the rights of Pashtuns after forming an alliance with Nawaz Sharif. If this is the case then it's a huge loss to all Pashtuns of Pakistan.

Arsalan | 9 years ago | Reply Why the ECP is comparing it with previous elections? It is trying to say that since all the elections in Pakistan were rigged and unfair, what's the big deal if 2013 elections were also rigged & unfair?

raider | 9 years ago | Reply these figures are just to fill the belly of documents, illegal printing is never recorded.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply One can clearly see that there is no "systematic" rigging here. Shame on IK for crying foul. Please learn to accept your defeat like a sportsman!

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