Thumb impressions verification in NA-122

LAHORE: The Election Tribunal Lahore on Saturday sought arguments from the counsel for National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq by February 21 on an application seeking directions for thumb-impression verification of counterfoils in the NA-122 constituency from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
The application was moved by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s counsel. The application has further delayed the fate of the election petition regarding NA-122 alleged rigging as previously a tribunal had directed the counsel for both parties to extend final arguments. But due to the said application, arguments did not take place on Saturday.
If the tribunal accepts the PTI plea then it will take Nadra at least two moths to verify thumb-impressions of 184,151avilable counterfoils and submission of its report. More time will also be consumed by transportation of election record to Nadra Head-office Islamabad.
The counsel for PTI chairman submitted in his application that the ballot papers issued to polling stations were doubtful. There were some poling stations where packing invoices were issued twice and the serial numbers on the packing invoices did not match with form 15, he added.
Moreover, a large number of form 15 have no serial numbers. He alleged that the actual record of the constituency had been destroyed. Under such circumstances, the status of ballot papers issued to polling stations was doubtful, he added. He prayed to the court to pass an order for verification of thumb impressions.
On the contrary, the NA speaker counsel submitted that the PTI was using delaying tactics to linger on the matter. Asjad Saeed Advocate implored that the case had reached the final arguments stage but the PTI again submitted another application, although the court had already disposed of PTI’s two pleas.
However, the judge handed over a copy of the PTI’s application to the counsel for Ayaz Sadiq, directing him to prepare and extend his arguments by February 21.
The PTI chief’s counsel later told The News his client was not dragging the matter, saying the PTI application is based on evidence and seeking further evidence.