Former Provincial Election Commissioner (Punjab) Mehboob Anwar testified before the General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission (GEIC) Thursday that permission was not sought from the higher authorities regarding printing of excessive ballot papers for certain constituencies. Appearing before a three-member GEIC led by the Chief Justice Nasir-ur-Mulk Mehboob Anwar recorded his statement on oath where Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cross-examined him.
Mehboob informed it is correct to say that extra ballot papers were printed for certain constituencies on the request of the Returning Officers in excess to the registered voters of the constituencies however, he said that he don't know the names of those constituencies.
Pirzada asked Mehboob whether he sought permission from the higher authorities for printing extra ballot papers. "No, I did not but intimated the higher authorities about the request of ROs," Mehbood responded. Pirzada asked from Mehboob about NA 154 that the Returning Officer of the constituency asked him to print extra 15,000 ballot papers in excess of the registered voters to which Mehboob said that he did not remember that the RO of the said constituency demanded extra ballot papers.
However, to another query, Mehboob said, "It is correct to say that all the requests of the ROs are recorded in the Election Commission (EC)". Mehboob told the GEIC it is correct to say that printing of ballot papers and other required material was not completed by May 5, 2013 saying usually the polling material is supplied to the polling stations two or three days before the election but it didn't happen.
To which the PTI's lawyer showed him a letter, addressed by the Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) intimating the ECP that work on completion of printing ballot papers was completed by May 5, 2013. "Did anybody ask explanation from you about such delay," Pirzada inquired from Mehboob to which the former election commissioner said that nobody asked for his explanation in this regard.
Mehboob informed the GEIC that he used to get written instructions from the higher authorities, adding that he met once the member election commission and during their meeting nothing particular came under discussion. However, he showed ignorance about the permanent stay of the Chief Election Commissioner either in Islamabad or Karachi. Meanwhile, accepting the plea of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) counsel Shahid Hamid, the GEIC directed him to file list of witnesses by May 11.
Hearing of the GEIC was adjourned till May 8 (today).