- Former Punjab EC rejects printing of additional ballot papers after May 7, 2013
Responding to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja during the hearing of Judicial Commission probing alleged rigging in 2013 polls, former Punjab election commissioner (EC) Mehboob Anwar on Monday denied allegations regarding printing of additional ballot papers, claiming that ballot papers were printed as ordered before May 7, 2013.
Anwar told the three-member commission, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Nasirul Mulk, that ballot papers and other election material were finalised on the returning officers’ demand. Ballot papers were printed in army’s presence and all the material was shifted to the polling stations in Punjab under the supervision of Pak Army, he added.
Responding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) counsel Shahid Hamid, Anwar said that ECP staff, against whom no complaint has been received, was present at the printing press during the process.
He said that election material was dispatched to all the constituencies by May 10, adding that deadline of May 5 for the printing of ballot papers was not a part of election schedule.
The former Punjab EC further said that no complaint was received against 36 district election commissioners in Punjab. “No complaint regarding misconduct was received against any returning officer while other staff members who assisted them also belonged to the judiciary,” he said.
Later on, the commission’s proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday (today).
