LAHORE - The Director General National Database and Regulatory Authority on Monday submitted a written report before an election tribunal stating that the Election Commission of Pakistan had used substandard ink during 2013 general elections, due to which the verification process is facing numerous problems.
DG Syed Muzaffar Ali, in a written reply, told the tribunal that the ECP ignored recommendation of the authority and purchased ink of poor quality. The reply was submitted last week during hearing of a petition challenging the victory of PML-N MPA Mohsin Latif in May 2013 election.
Runner up candidate of the PTI, Shoaib Siddiqui had filed the petition alleging that his defeat was engineered. Justice Kazim Ali Malik heading the election tribunal had appointed a local commission to inspect six polling stations of the provincial constituency. The commission submitted its report and said that a report to the tribunal and revealed that at least 1,590 votes of the six polling stations could not be verified due to substandard ink used for casting of votes.
Upon which, the tribunal sought reply from the DG Nadra directing him to explain the reasons. The DG, in his reply, said that Nadra had rejected four out of five ink samples referred by the ECP. He said the ECP ignored Nadra’s advice and acquired the rejected samples of ink. The proceedings adjourned till August 26.