Modalities to procure record of 'Form 15': GEIC decides to conduct in-camera proceedings

General Election Inquiry Commission (GEIC) on Tuesday decided to conduct in-chamber hearing to ponder upon modalities to procure record of Form 15, which carries data about number of ballot papers used in general election 2013. Chairman of the Commission Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk summoned election commission experts and counsels for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPP) and Balochistan National Party (BNP) to attend the in-chamber proceeding in the matter.
During the hearing, the ECP counsel Salman Akram Raja apprised the GEIC that election commission would be able to produce record of Form 15 till May 29 as it has no space to dump the record. Raja told the GEIC that the ECP has two options to collect Form 15, to open the polling bags or to get record form the concerned Returning Officers of the constituencies, adding that producing the record of the Form 15 before the GEIC also have logistic problems.
To which, a member of the GEIC Justice Amir Hani Muslim observed that all the record is supposed to be with the treasury offices instead of ROs. The PTI counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada prayed the GEIC to direct the ECP to ensure sanctity of polling bags if the election commission is asked to procure Form 15 record from the bags. PPPP counsel Aitzaz Ahsan contended that law does not permit to open the polling bags in the absence of candidates to which the GEIC chairman Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk observed it mean that all the contesting candidates should be served notices.
However, the ECP counsel Raja apprised the GEIC that according to rules, election commission is authorised to open the polling bags. Responding to the GEIC query, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said that at least three weeks time is required to open the polling bags, adding that the ROs could better guide about usage of additional ballot papers during the general election. The GEIC also recorded testimonies of incumbent secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad and chief accountant of the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Muhammad Naeem Akhtar. Hearing of the matter was adjourned till May 27 (today).