- Commission says move has nothing to do with PTI’s request
- NADRA denies sharing information with any political party whatsoever
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has written a letter to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) seeking an explanation as to why a newspaper published details of electoral lists on 25th and 28th May without permission from the election body.
The letter comes in the wake of the allegations made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against NADRA chief Usman Yousaf Mobin. The PTI, in a letter to the ECP last week, had demanded Mobin’s removal to ensure transparent polls.
However, the ECP rejected reports broadcasted on certain television channels that the commission has sought the explanation from NADRA on the issue of data leaks on PTI’s request, reported Radio Pakistan.
In a letter to NADRA on Monday, the election watchdog sought the authority’s response, saying, “[certain] Officials at NADRA shared the data with unrelated persons.”
The letter argued that NADRA had violated data confidentiality agreement with the ECP. The NADRA chairman was further directed to conduct an inquiry against those responsible for the data leak.
While NADRA, on the other hands, maintains impartiality, saying it has not shared “sensitive information” with anyone. In a statement issued on Sunday, the authority dismissed the allegation of providing sensitive information to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ahead of general elections.
The allegations of corruption are fabricated and baseless, said the NADRA spokesperson, adding that the authority had a limited role in conducting elections.
“The organisation is only providing technical assistance to the ECP in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” the statement said, adding that NADRA has not given data to any political party, whatsoever.
On Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had reportedly decided to forward a petition to the ECP demanding removal of NADRA’s chairman.
PTI’s petition alleged that NADRA chief Usman Yousaf Mobin was appointed by the PML-N government and he provided data to the party in order to help the erstwhile ruling party in the upcoming elections.
Mobin was reappointed in February at the post for a three-year period after his previous stint in power ended.