ECP to implement bio-metric systems in NA-19 Haripur by-polls

ECP will deploy the system at 30 polling stations in NA-19 in collaboration with NADRA, PTA and Ufone

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will adopt bio-metric system in 30 polling stations of NA-19 Haripur as the constituency goes into a by-election on August 16, Radio Pakistan reported.

Some 500,000 voters are registered in the constituency of NA-19 Haripur, where a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, had on June 19 ordered re-polls after a tribunal ruled in favour of PML-N candidate Omar Ayub Khan.

Khan had managed to prove before the tribunal of irregularities and demanded de-seating of PTI candidate Amir Zaman.

Suspending Zaman’s National Assembly membership on December 31, 2013, the tribunal ordered re-polls in seven out of NA-19’s 437 polling stations.

While 11 candidates are contesting the polls, the main battle is expected to be between Babar Nawaz Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Raja Aamir Zaman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Read: More inky thumbs: Deployment of army demanded for by-elections in NA-19

The commission will be implementing the bio-metric system in collaboration with the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecommunication provider Ufone. It is believed that Sunday's poll will prove to be a test case for bio-metric polling systems as the ECP gears up for holding local bodies elections in Punjab and Sindh.

Read: PTI not involved in rigging, ready for re-elections: Imran Khan

For security, police, Rangers and units of the Army will be deployed.