Summary The ECP issued directives for 'form 14' but nothing was instructed about 'form 15', bench remarks
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Political parties’ and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) counsels on Friday have concluded their arguments before the inquiry commission in the General Elections 2013 rigging probe.
ECP’s counsel Salman Akran Raja said that according to the constitution every polling station is sent 100 percent ballots irrespective of turnout. The Karachi press printed ballots in accordance to April 21 instead of April 26, he added.
The court asked the counsel to explain the reason behind demands of provincial commissions and returning officers (ROs) in Punjab for additional ballots. The counsel said that the ECP was aware of the situation. He said that the number of ballots printed for as many as 147 constituencies in Punjab maintained a low average.
Raja said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) counsel tried to highlight an angle of the story alleging that there was a specific purpose behind ROs demands which is wrong.
On court’s question about possession of ‘form 15’ by ROs instead of the ECP, the commission’s counsel confessed that it was ECP’s negligence. However, the court stressed that there must be a reason behind this. The ECP issued directives for ‘form 14’ but nothing was instructed about ‘form 15’, the judge added.
Raja said that no rigging can be proved on basis of mere filling of ‘form 15’. The ECP did not discriminate among parties and was above favouritism, he added. The counsel said that provincial Election Commissioner (EC) Mehboob Anwar has been portrayed a villain in the matter.
ECP’s Raja further said that the complainants have not filed proofs of ballots’ printing in Urdu Bazaar Lahore and other private printing presses.
