ISLAMABAD: The PTI witnesses testified before the Judicial Commission (JC) on Friday that the personnel of armed forces and the Election Commission of Pakistan had supervised the printing of ballot papers for the 2013 general election. A three-member Inquiry Commission, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, resumed hearing of the alleged systematic rigging in 2013 general elections. Three more witnesses of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, including former MD of Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) Musa Raza Afandi, former Managing Director of PCP Lahore Muhammad Rafiq and Managing Director of Pakistan Post Foundation Ijaz Ahmad Minhas recorded their testimonies. They were cross-examined by Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for PTI; Shahid Hamid, counsel for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz; and Salman Akram Raja, counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Musa Raza Afandi told the commission that the process of printing of ballot papers was completed on 10th of May 2013 and it was incorrect to say that the printing of ballot papers continued till 11th of May 2013.To a question, he submitted that it was correct to say that the Pakistan Post Foundation was sublet for printing 20 million ballot papers. He said on 7th of May, 2013, they requested the ECP to provide 70 to 80 people for manual stamping of ballot papers and accordingly their request was accepted and 70 to 80 people were deployed and put on work out of which 34 were employed. At this Pirzada confronted him with a list of 112 people which Afandi denied. Answering questions of Shahid Hamid, he testified that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan had complete record of the supply of ballot papers and details of delivery. He testified that the record included the persons who had received the ballot papers which was done in accordance with the names of officers given by the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as the armed forces personnel. Afandi further testified that the Printing Corporation of Pakistan, Islamabad started delivering ballot papers from 2nd May 2013 and completed the delivery by 10th of May 2013 except for few constituencies. Answering queries of Salman Akram Raja, counsel for the ECP, the former MD Printing Corporation of Pakistan said at the time of delivery of ballot papers armed forces were also present in addition to ECP staff. Replying to a question by Pirzada, Ijaz Ahmed Minhas admitted that ballot papers were handed over to the designated officers of ECP and the representatives of the armed forces. He said the Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) had assigned the task to Pakistan Post Foundation for printing ballot papers and they were paid for it. Recording his testimony, former managing director of PCP Lahore Muhammad Rafiq also admitted that the personnel of army were deputed at the Lahore Printing Press along with the designated staff of ECP to supervise the process. Meanwhile, the Inquiry Commission has summoned three more witnesses for Monday including former Election Commissioner Sindh Tariq Qadri, former Managing Director Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Karachi Rizwan Ahmed and former Managing Director Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press Karachi Muzaffar Ali Chandio and adjourned the hearing.
