ROs testimony throws up no new point about ‘rigging’

Islamabad
No new point has came to light during the cross-examination of eight Returning Officers (ROs) to prove 'systematic rigging' in the 2013 general elections. The only point that created confusion about 50,000 additional ballot papers in NA-125 constituency has already been resolved by the District Election Commissioner, Lahore.
The confusion emerged during Inquiry Commission's proceedings on Thursday when the Returning Officer who supervised the elections in NA-125 informed the commission that he had requisitioned 500,000 ballot papers but the ECP sent 50,000 additional ballot papers without taking him into confidence. However this point was clarified when the District Election Commissioner Lahore testified before the commission.
Ishaq Khakwani, head of PTI's committee, while talking to The News said he was confident that their legal team has many strong points, which they would record at the time of arguments. He said there are many flaws in the statements of the ROs and PTI's legal team would point them out.
So far eight ROs - one from Sindh, two from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, one from FATA and four from Punjab - have testified before the commission. The ROs from Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have informed the Inquiry Commission that they did not determine the number of ballot papers printed for the general elections 2013. However, the ROs from Punjab told the commission they determined the number of ballot papers on their own.
During the proceedings of the Inquiry Commission, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk on Thursday, Chief Justice once again made it clear that the commission summoned the ROs only for one purpose and that was about the missing "Form XV". However, he said the commission allowed the counsel representing various political parties to cross-examine these ROs to a certain level. He said this is not an election tribunal but an inquiry commission and the counsel must keep this in mind while cross-examining the witnesses.
The ROs produced the relevant documents including packing invoices, "Form XV" and other relevant material. However during Thursday's proceedings the only unusual thing that happened was that the RO who supervised the NA 125 polling informed the commission that he sent the requisition for 500,000 ballot papers but instead he received 50,000 extra. Upon this, Chief Justice asked the RO whether he held any inquiry or asked the ECP why 50000 extra ballot papers were sent to him.
The significance and focus on this constituency has increased, as this was one of the four constituencies where PTI leveled rigging allegations initially.
However it is important to mention here that District Election Commissioner Lahore Shabbar Abbas Bokhari who testified before the Inquiry Commission on June 08, 2015 has already clarified why 50,000 additional ballot papers were printed.
Bokhari admitted before the commission the ballot papers printed for the constituency were much in excess, which was not a normal practice. He said he made certain changes in the assessment about the ballot papers, though he had received the printing requirement for the constituency from district returning officers (DROs) concerned.
The registered voters in the constituency were 429,115 while the demand for ballot papers as assessed by the returning officer (RO) concerned and the subsequent requisition was for 500,000, though it was slightly unusual. But the ballot papers printed numbered 550,000.
He said although the requisition was for 500,000 ballot papers, but for two Punjab Assembly constituencies - PP-155 and 156 - in the same area and with the same number of registered voters as assessed by the RO was 550,000 - 300,000 for one constituency and 250,000 for the other. Thus he equalled the number of ballot papers to 550,000 for both the National Assembly seat and the two provincial assembly seats.
Ishaq Khakwani further said the ROs gave contrasting statement and the PTI's legal team has noted these points, which would be discussed at the later stage. He said they have a very strong case and this would be reflected when their counsel would present their arguments before the commission.