- With ECP Additional Secretary Sher Afgan testifying on 8th, CJP says arguments will immediately ensue and commission will conclude hearing by end of next week
The General Election Inquiry Commission (GEIC) has summoned Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Additional Secretary Sher Afgan– the last witness in the proceedings who is scheduled to record his statement on June 8– and is likely to conclude its proceedings by the end of next week.
The GEIC, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Amir Hani Muslim, resumed the hearing of allegations of widespread rigging in the 2013 General Election on Wednesday.
The CJP remarked that with the recording of last testimony next Monday, the arguments will ensue immediately and the commission will conclude its hearing by the end of next week.
During the Wednesday’s proceeding, the commission examined six witnesses presented by ECP’s counsel Raja Salman Akram.
Speaking before the commission, Printing Press Corporation (PPC) Islamabad Deputy Manager Muhammad Salman said that at the time of printing of ballot papers, they were bound to print additional 2.5 percent ballot papers as a part of policy. The additional printing is done because of chances of wastage of ballot papers due to any reason, he added.
Upon query, Salman said that additional ballot papers are burnt by a committee in the presence of army personnel. He maintained that they sent the ballot papers to ECP as per their requirement.
Punjab Joint Election Commissioner Khaleequr Rehman, PPC Islamabad Deputy Manager Liaqat Ali, Sargodha Regional Election Commissioner Mujahid Hussain, ECP Assistant Director Administration Muhammad Irfan, ECP General Section Deputy Director Muhammad Saeed and Pakistan Security Printing Corporation General Manager Naveed A Khawaja also recorded their statements before the commission.
Later, the commission’s hearing was adjourned till Monday.