JC’s rigging probe seems limited to only 11 constituencies

ISLAMABAD: The debate in the Inquiry Commission probing allegation of rigging in general elections 2013, is now narrowing down to 11 constituencies where more than 10 per cent extra ballot papers had been printed but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is still insisting that irregularities took place in dozens of other constituencies.
The Inquiry commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk has already summoned the returning officers (ROs) of these constituencies on Wednesday to explain the reasons for extra ballot papers and missing form-15s in these constituencies but the political pundits are wondering whether the probe will now only be focused on these areas.
Interestingly, out of these 11 constituencies, only seven were won by PML-N while one each were won by PTI, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamat-e-Islami and independent candidate.
These constituencies include NA 21 (16% extra ballot papers) won by Captain Safdar (PML-N); NA-34 (17% extra ballot papers) won by Sahibzada Mohammad Yaqoob (Jamaat-e-Islami); NA-43 (13% extra ballot papers) won by Bismillah Khan (independent); NA-53 (19% extra ballot papers) won by Ghulam Sarwar (PTI), NA-118 (17% extra ballot papers) won by Mohammad Riaz Malik of PML-N; NA-119 (21% extra ballot papers) won by Hamza Shahbaz (PML-N); NA-125 (28% extra ballot papers) won by Saad Rafique (PML-N), NA-130 (25% extra ballot papers) won by Suhail Shaukar Butt (PML-N); NA-157 (20% extra ballot papers) won by Mohammad Khan Daha (PML-N); NA-171 won by Sardar Amjad Farooq Khosa (PML-N); NA-222 (10% extra ballot papers) won by Syed Naveed Qamar (PPP).
However top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and head of party’s committee on rigging Ishaq Khakwani claims that party is not confining its rigging allegations to just these 11 National Assembly seats as there are around dozens of other constituencies where irregularities have been observed.
“These 11 constituencies have been chosen by the Inquiry Commission for thorough probe after witnessing large number of missing form 15 and printing of extra ballot papers in these areas,” he said.
Khakwani said the commission has also sought pre-scan reports of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for 40 constituencies where election disputes were taken to election tribunals.He said PTI believes rigging took place across the country and other parties have also submitted complaints of rigging in their respective areas.