National

Poll body admits to ‘slip ups’ by POs

June 28, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The inquiry commission investigating allegations of rigging in 2013 elections is set to hear arguments of counsels representing political parties from Monday (tomorrow) as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has admitted that the absence of Form 15 shows negligence of Presiding Officers.

“It is clear that the gaps in the record of Form-15s is entirely random and reflects lack of care on the part of the POs as regards the copies of the Form-15s that ought to have been placed in the polling bags,” reads the reply submitted by ECP’s counsel Salman Akram Raja to the inquiry body.

“As regards gaps in the record of Form-15s that returning officers (ROs) have been able to retrieve, these gaps again reflect lack of care on the part of the POs or deficiencies in the record-keeping procedure and facilities.” The ECP states that the absence of Form-15s cannot be said to be proof – much less proof beyond reasonable doubt – of any wrongdoing. “The absence of Form-15s and broken seals could have been caused due to incompetence of the POs.”