LAHORE (Web Desk) – During a hearing on NA-122 poll rigging case, National Database and Regulatory Authority (Nadra) DG Usman Mubin told the court on Saturday that low standard ink was used in election 2013 and that the process of verification of votes is not an easy task as it demands time and concentration.
However, the Nadra head told Justice Kazim Malik of election tribunal, the forensic report was prepared as per law and after verifying thumb impressions.
During Saturday’s proceedings, the counsels of Imran Khan restricted to give any argument on the Nadra report. On the other hand, counsel of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq advised the authorities to mull the report as the 6123 votes were declared fake by Nadra due minor mistakes in ID cards.
The election tribunal accepted the appeal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s counsels to present their arguments on next hearing – May 25.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan had filed a petition against PML-N leader and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq who was the successful candidate in NA-122.
On May 9, the Nadra officials had submitted a forensic report pertaining to alleged rigging in NA-122 to the election tribunal. According to the report 93,852 votes used counterfoils which Nadra could not process through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System because of the poor quality of fingerprints of voters. However, the CNIC numbers mentioned on counterfoils were valid.
The report also found that 73,478 votes in the constituency were verified.
Earlier on Friday, PTI chairman Imran Khan had said that he was hoping for good news for his party as the election tribunal reviews the NA-122. Addressing a rally in Multan ahead of by-polls scheduled for May 21, the PTI chief said that “this is a very interesting case,” adding that after downing a ‘wicket’ in NA-125, there would be good news for the party in NA-122 as well.
