Magnetic ink has nothing to do with voters’ verification

ISLAMABAD: The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) while removing the confusion over magnetic ink on Thursday testified before the General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission (GEIC) that the magnetic ink had nothing to do with the voters’ verification.
A three-member General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed hearing in the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.Nadra Chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin recorded his testimony before the Judicial Commission (JC) on oath. PTI counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, PML-N counsel Shahid Hamid and counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Salman Akram Raja cross-examined the Nadra chairman.
Answering the questions of Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, the Nadra chairman testified that of the ballot papers received by Nadra from different Election Tribunals for forensic analysis, 97 percent votes were found valid. He said that the magnetic ink had nothing to do with the voters’
verification as he said that Nadra had no facility for the identification of magnetic ink, adding that they got four samples of magnetic ink but they didn’t make any comments because they did not have the facility to check whether the ink was magnetic or not.
“We don’t have experts”, he said adding that he did not know as to whether finger prints could be enlarged.Appointed on February 6, 2015 as Nadra chairman, he testified that the ballot papers Nadra received from different Election Tribunals and as per their directions when verified, 97 percent ballot papers were found valid.
Those votes which were not examined could not be declared as fake because when National Identity Card (NIC) numbers found on both ballot papers and counter files were examined, these votes were found 100 percent valid.
He further said that unverified votes could not be equated with fake votes. To another question, Nadra chairman said that thumb impressions used to be taken on pages previously but now automatic machines were used.
Replying to another question, he said if the thumb impression was readable, it was sent for the verification process. He said that thumbs with scar on them were not easy to be verified while problems were faced in reading the thumb impressions of persons aged 60 or above.
He further testified that the reports submitted before the JC were also submitted in the election tribunals.When asked as to whether he had given his comments over 39 reports submitted before the Election Tribunals, Mobeen said that he had not given his personal opinion over those 38 reports. To a question, he said the reports authored by the officials were authentic.
However, he testified while answering question of Abdul Hafeez Pirzada pertaining to report related to the constituency from where Imran Khan had contested the elections as saying, “Yes, except other 38 reports, I have gone through the last report related to the constituency wherein Imran Khan contested the elections and I have given my opinion over that report.”
During the course of hearing, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada lodged complaint with the Commission that PML-N cabinet ministers appearing on TV channels mostly information minister said that PTI had failed to produce solid proof before the Commission regarding rigging in the 2013 general elections.
Shahid Hamid, counsel for PML-N in response also told the commission that PTI legislators coming on TV channels gave their opinion over the matter.Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk however, directed Shahid Hamid to advise his client to refrain from giving comments on the merits of the instant case.
The chief justice said that leaders of all the political parties should abstain from giving comments over the proceedings of the Inquiry Commission otherwise they would adopt the option of holding the proceeding in-camera.
Meanwhile, the Inquiry Commission adjourned the hearing till today (Friday) at 9.30am wherein another witness, head of Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), will record his testimony.