The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) should immediately audit thumb impressions in all constituencies across the country, especially in Lahore and Karachi, where rigging complaints were made.
PILDAT said that this audit had become necessary in view of rigging allegations, and could be undertaken easily and would not take long This exercise would safeguard the elections’ credibility by identifying specific areas where irregularities may have occurred
Authenticated voter thumb impressions in NADRA’s database should be compared to the ones attached with the pictures on the electoral rolls and the counterfoils of the ballot papers. Any discrepancies should be brought to the ECP’s notice.
If there was a block mismatch of thumb impressions at any polling station, its results should be declared void.
PILDAT expressed concern that polling staff, especially ladies, were handed the polling material without any transportation or security arrangements. The polling staff’s vulnerability and local political influence proved to be one of the weakest aspects of the ECP’s election arrangements.