Printing of ballots: ROs statements show discrepancy in procedure

All ROs say the whole record of ballot papers is accounted for

ISLAMABAD: During the Wednesday hearing of the inquiry commission probing alleged rigging in the May 2013 polls, a discrepancy was noticed in  the procedure of determining the number of printed ballot papers as returning officers (ROs) from different provinces described two different procedures.

The three-judge commission, headed by chief justice Nasirul Mulk, was recording statements of five ROs regarding their demand for the printing of ballot papers.

The ROs, who had performed election duty in the Khyber-Pakhtukhwa (K-P) and Sindh in the general elections, told the commission that it was the Provincial Election Commissioners (PEC), who had determined the number of ballot papers to be printed for each constituency.

However, two ROs from Punjab, who had performed duty respectively at NA-53 and NA-118, admitted that they had given their tentative assessment regarding the printing of ballot papers and the requisition for the printing of ballot papers was made on their recommendations.

Both the ROs said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had not given them any action plan regarding the printing of ballot papers as well as consolidation and compiling of election result. Saeed Awan, the RO in NA-53 Taxila, said the final demand regarding the printing of ballot papers were given by DROs concerned.

He admitted that the total votes of the constituency were 382,115, while 453,815 ballot papers were printed. He also claimed that he had prepared the packing invoice. The RO from NA-118, Nisar Ahmad, admitted that he was the person who determined magnitude of the printing of ballot papers.

During the hearing, Peer Bakhsh, who performed his duty as RO in the K-P’s NA-34 Lower Dir constituency, said the polling day was difficult like ‘a doomsday’ due to its hectic routine.

He told the bench that he not only performed duty as the RO but also as district returning officer (DRO) while also doing judicial work. Bakhsh said after the polls he had deposited fourteen cartons of unused ballot books in the treasury.

He said he had brought with him copies of all Form 15s except for that of sixteen polling stations. He also submitted the packing invoice, wherein there was no signature of a presiding officer (PO).

Another RO, Mobeen Bano, who performed duty at Sindh’s NA-222 Hyderabad constituency, said the POs were not properly trained. “Therefore, they could not furnish the election material correctly while some of them did not fill up the Form 15s.”

She said she along with two of her assistants had spent two days to streamline the whole record after polling day. She, however, said the requisition of ballot papers were determined by the PEC.

All ROs, who appeared before the commission, submitted that the whole record of ballot papers could be accounted for and that they had deposited the unused ballot papers in the treasury.

Meanwhile, the commission has summoned ROs of NA-119 and NA-125 today (Thursday) for cross examination. The PTI’s counsel believes that the cross examination of both the ROs will be very significant.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2015.