ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data shows that number of votes added or removed from voting list of NA-122 accurately matches with difference of total number of registered votes in the constituency during 2013 general elections and October 2015 by-election.
The ECP investigation also gives a lie to the PTI claim that votes were transferred from or into NA-122 without the consent of voters. It is established that ECP maintains complete record of all such votes transferred in this duration of two years and one month. A vote can be transferred only on application of voter, of which the record is maintained, while there is always no record of fresh voters who register themselves after attaining age of 18 years.
PTI has asked ECP about one particular question and after attaining response of provincial office of the commission, the party portrayed it as response of different questions to mislead the general public and party workers.
ECP internal probe in collaboration with Nadra on the issue reflects that official record and documents show following figures pertaining to NA-122: Votes registered in NA-122 during 2013 general elections as official computerized voting list: 322,908; Votes registered in NA-122 during October 11, 2015 bye-elections: 347,762; Voters added in NA-122 from May 2013 to June 26, 2015; Voters migrated to NA-122 under section-18 from other constituencies: 5,799; Citizens registered themselves as fresh voters after attaining age of 18 years: 26,765; So total votes added: 32,564.
Voters migrated from NA-122 under section-18 to other constituencies: 3,186; Voter removed from NA-122 computerized voting list on account of death: 4,233; Voters excluded because of cancellation of CNICs: 170
Voters excluded because of blocking of CNIC: 123; So total voters removed: 7,710.
Net impact on number of votes in NA-122 voting list in this duration: 32,564 – 7,710 = 24,854 increase. If we add this increase (24,854) in 322,908 (votes registered during general election 2013 in NA-122), it will result into 347,762 which was number of total registered voters in NA-122 at the bye-elections in October this year.
It is important to mention that this is one of the lowest increase in votes if compared with other constituencies in this duration of 2 years and 1 month (i.e. from May 2013 to June 26, 2015). Process of making any changes in voting list was stopped on June 26, 2015 after announcement of LG polls schedule. Whole record of transfer of these votes, voter’s application on prescribed form with evidence to substantiate motive to change vote, is present with ECP.
Initially, PTI has leveled allegation that votes of pro-PTI voters were transferred out of NA-122 without consent of the voters. It was claimed that the ruling party came to know about decision of the voters through a survey. When PTI was asked to provide details of such voters, the party hesitated to share CNICs of any of the voters at start. However, when media pressure mounted, PTI shared CNIC numbers of 8 such voters with media. When investigated by The News, claim of all these 8 voters founded fake as they never remained voters of NA-122.
PTI leadership tried to get their votes transferred in NA-122 to increase their support but could not succeed as process of transferring of votes was stopped because of announcement of election schedule. Later PTI leader Chaudhry Sarwar repeatedly stated that PTI has collected affidavits of some 1000 voters of NA-122 that their vote was transferred out of the constituency without their consent only because of their affiliation with PTI. When Chaudhry Sarwar was asked for the evidence, he only stated that PTI was taking this case of ‘mega election fraud’ to European Union and that if he could not provide evidences he will quit politics.
However, in a press conference PTI chief leveled same allegations and presented only one affidavit and a screenshot of mobile text message showing change of vote from NA-122. The News again investigated both the cases put forward by PTI and it was revealed that one voter who presented affidavit himself changed his vote from NA-122 and record of his application along with all evidences was present in record of ECP.
In case of other ‘proof’ of screenshot, ECP text service ‘8300’ it was established that vote of the said voter was never transferred from NA-122 and screenshot presented to media was tempered with (photoshopped).
According to ECP officials, record of transfer of all votes from NA-122 or into NA-122 is present and all transfer of votes after general election 2013 took place on application of the voter after proper verification.
As of today, PTI could not provide example of a single vote transferred from NA-122 or inside NA-122 but continues to level allegations compromising party’s credibility. It is clear that if PTI will provide any evidence regarding vote transfers, it will be probed thoroughly but material annexed with a latest petition filed with ECP is simply ridiculous and reflect ignorance of PTI leaders about whole mechanism.
In majority of the cases, citizens do not apply instantly for CNIC after reaching age of 18 and in many cases this delay is in many years. This has confused few anchorpersons who started counting number of voters in certain age brackets, i.e. 18 years, 19 years etc in NA-122 from electoral rolls. There is another reason of this confusion.
Electoral rolls are dynamic in one sense while are static in another sense. These rolls are dynamic in the sense that it is always subjected to change because of addition or removal of votes because of reasons mentioned above. However, these rolls are static in the sense that no change is made in particulars of old voters who do not change their vote to some other constituency. ECP officials explain that for example age of a certain voter was reflected in electoral rolls as 19 years during 2013 general elections.
If this voter, according to ECP officials, will not change his vote from his constituency, he age continues to be reflected as ‘19 years’ despite passing of three years (Present electoral rolls was finalized in 2012). It is same for all other age brackets. This will remain unchanged till the complete revision of electoral rolls which is carried out before general elections. So votes in a certain age bracket cannot be counted simply by depending on data reflected in electoral rolls.