No clear evidence comes to fore on rigging in NA-122: Judge

[Edevelop]

LAHORE- Judge Malik Ghulam Hussain of Inquiry Commission (IC) has presented report to Election Tribunal (ET), on alleged polls rigging in NA-122.

The judge while recording statement before ET on the occasion of filing of inquiry report said today, that no clear evidence on rigging in this constituency has come to fore, and benefit of flaws pointed out in inquiry committee cannot be given to any one candidate.

He said in his statement that tremendous amount of negligence and slackness was demonstrated, during polling in NA-122. As per law, it is mandatory that back side of ballot papers and counter foils should bear stamp and signatures of polling staff but they lacked it.

The ballot papers which did not carry stamp were rejected and the ballot papers numbering 300132 which are having counterfoils can be taken as rigging. Upon it the judge told nothing in the report or verbally if the rigging has taken place. ET is entitled to accept or reject these 30132 counterfoils.

Counsels for National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayyaz Sadiq and Imran conducted cross questioning on the statement of IC judge Malik Ghulam Hussain. Counsels for NA speaker asked from IC judge rigging at what scale has come to light in NA-122.

Judge said he has recorded statement that rigging has not been seen but negligence and malpractices of the staff have been seen which have been identified in report. Counsel for Imran Khan asked from IC judge, during the course of cross questioning commission did what on non matching of different colors ballot papers and series of counterfoils with original series and absence of stamp and signatures on the backside of ballot papers.

IC judge said this has to be decided by ET that they reject counterfoils like ballot papers or not. ET judge adjourned the hearing of the case till January, 31.

No clear evidence comes to fore on rigging in NA-122: Judge

 

[batmannow]

Commission confirms irregularities in NA-122
Tauqir Ghumman
Updated about 11 hours ago
65 Comments
Print

NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq (L) PTI leader Imran Khan (R) - File photo
LAHORE: The inspection judge of a local commission, Ghulam Hussain Awan, recorded his statement on Saturday before election tribunal judge Justice Kazim Ali Malik regarding irregularities in NA-122 polling stations and also submitted a report in this regard. NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had sought a recount and verification of voters' thumb impressions.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 and the party had challenged the results.

Awan told the tribunal judge today that due to the negligence of polling staff, ballot bags with broken seals have been included in the report along with invalid votes and different coloured ballot papers.

Judge Kazim stated that if what the report states is true, he will personally inspect the NA-122 ballots and form a decision based on the commission's findings, adding that he will take action against rigging in NA-122 polling stations in accordance with the law.

The tribunal judge has also summoned 150 witnesses on January 31, the list of whom Sadiq's lawyer submitted to the tribunal today, stating that 'Imran Khan is untruthful'. The witnesses will provide evidence on the fact that rigging did not take place in the said constituency.

Previously, the commission which was tasked to inspect the record of the NA-122 constituency, where National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq had been declared winner, submitted its report to the election tribunal earlier this week.

Know more: NA-122: commission submits its report to election tribunal

The commission was directed to de-seal/open polling bags to check whether they had been closed with a proper seal or with a broken or damaged seal.

It was also required to check the number of polled ballots which did not bear the stamp and signature of a presiding officer or an assistant presiding officer.

According to the 42-page report, the commission found 180,115 verified votes and 23,639 without signature/ stamp of the authorised polling staff. It declared that 3,642 votes were invalid or rejected.

The report said Sadiq obtained 92,393 votes whereas Khan received 83,542 votes. The remaining 4,180 votes went to other candidates.

It further revealed that 806 votes in Form-14 did not match the counterfoils. Based on these findings, the commission submitted a report to the tribunal today.

Also read: Claim, counter-claim by govt, PTI about recount for NA-122

Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had previously claimed that victory margin of Ayaz Sadiq has ‘increased’ after a vote recount in Lahore’s NA-122 constituency.

Making a counter-claim, PTI said that ‘polling fraud has been exposed’ after the vote recount, and urged the National Assembly to ‘prepare resignation’ of the speaker.

 

[arushbhai]

There have been few irregularities but they are usually very minute in nature and prove nothing but little carelessness from the staff. Such irregularities can be found in any constituency regardless of who won from there. PTI has lost its case, as usual. Though, they now got another reason to polish their politics and create some more fasaad on the basis of these so called irregularities

 

[khawaja07]

25000 Counterfoils being found and Form 14 and 15 missing are small irregularities confirmed!

Election Tribunal Confirms form 14-15 was missing in NA 122.

 

[Musafir117]

Whenever I read that NA rig or not rig threads I remember a dialogue in a movie The Snakes on the Planes
Samuel L Jackson yelled on peak " I am Tired of these........snakes on this .........plane "

 

[Jazzbot]

Funny how Jung / News / Nation etc are misreporting NA-122 related news.