JC to discuss modalities of retrieving Form 15 today

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission probing the alleged systematic rigging in the 2013 general elections has convened a meeting today to chalk out the procedure for retrieving the Form 15 and has summoned officials of the Election Commission for assistance.
The three-member commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan resumed hearing in the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for Pakistan Tehreek-e-e-Insaf, pleaded that in order to avoid any controversy Form 15 be retrieved from the polling bags and be opened in the presence of the local commission offices.
The learned counsel stressed for retrieving Form 15 after the Election Commission on Tuesday submitted its reply regarding Forms 14, 15, 16 and 17. Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), sought more time for retrieving Form 15 as he said 70 percent Returning Officers (ROs) gave them assurance that they could provide it.
He said that the Forms 15 available with ROs are just for the record while forms in the bags are official record.
“The entire documents were locked in the offices of District and Session Judges”, Salman Akram Raja said adding that for the last few days they have been in close contact with the authorities concerned for the provisions of all the relevant documents. The learned counsel submitted that by Friday they would have the bulk of all relevant documents. He contended that there were 70,000 polling stations across the country during 2013 general elections having two forms - one each for the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly. The counsel cited Section 45 of the Representation of People Act 1976 saying that they are obliged to provide Form 15 in bags.
The Chief Justice, after listening to the ECP counsel, asked Abdul Hafeez Pirzada about the way out. Mr Pirzada said that it is the Election Commission that has the custody of forms 15 so let them produce what is available with them. He further submitted that it should also be assured that these bags were not touched.
“By Friday we will have a good picture”, Salman Akram Raja, counsel for the Election Commission, again assured the commission.
The Chief Justice told Abdul Hafeez Pirzada that 70 percent Returning Officers (ROs) have assured the Election Commission of providing Forms 15, which were not official but they had retained it for record. “Would it be acceptable to you, the forms retrieved from ROs? Abdul Hafeez Pirzada however sought some time for consultation with his client. The commission then took 10 minutes break and later on, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada requested the commission to retrieve the forms from the bags in the presence of local commission offices. Meanwhile, the commission asked Salman Akram Raja to provide some staff of the ECP to ascertain how these forms could be retrieved.
The commission convened the meeting today (Wednesday) in the chamber at 9 a.m. to get the opinion of the staff of the Election Commission for retrieving the forms and adjourned the hearing till Thursday May 28.
Later, the commission recorded testimony of former Election Commissioner Balochistan Sultan Bazeed. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Shahid Hamid and Salman Akram Raja cross-examined him.
While answering questions from Abdul Hafeez Pirzada he testified that they had received ballot papers for constituencies by May 2, 2013 and that the ballot papers were printed by Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi. He said the entire election material as airlifted from Karachi under the security of Pak Army and was received by the respective Returning Officers in Balochistan. He further testified that polling scheme for Balochistan was duly notified.
The former provincial election commissioner said that three election tribunals were set up in the province but were later on reduced to two.
To another question he said that all elections petitions filed with these tribunals were disposed of. He further said that it is correct to say that election petitions relating to constituencies 42, 43, 47, 48 were dismissed while the petition related to NA-272 was also dismissed.
The commission also recorded testimony of Muhammad Naeem Akhtar, the incumbent chief accountant in the Printing Corporation of Pakistan. He said that before his coming to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan as chief accountant, he was serving as deputy secretary Cabinet Division.