LAHORE: The election tribunal on Friday reserved verdict on an application of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan seeking verification of thumb impressions of electors of National Assembly Speaker’s constituency through Nadra.

Tribunal-member Kazim Ali Malik reserved the verdict which he would announce on March 4.

Earlier, counsel for Mr Khan and NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq concluded their arguments.

Applicant’s counsel Advocate Anees Hashmi said the verification of electors’ thumb impressions through Nadra was necessary to know the validity and fate of the unauthorised ballot papers used during the polling.

He said perusal of the election record showed that the alleged rigging was pre-planned and not a result of negligence of the polling staff.

Barrister Asjad Saeed, the speaker’s counsel, opposed the plea and said the verification of thumb impressions at this stage would be a waste of time and money.

He said a local commission appointed by the tribunal had already submitted a report after holding inspection of the election record of NA-122.

He said the commission found no rigging except some administrative irregularities in the record. He prayed to the tribunal to dismiss the application for being not maintainable.

NA-125: The Nadra submitted before the election tribunal a report of inspection in respect of two remaining polling stations of Railway Minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq’s constituency, NA-125, Lahore.

PTI’s Hamid Khan, runner-up candidate from the constituency, had challenged the election accusing Saad Rafiq of rigging.

In this case, a local commission had already conducted inspection of the record and submitted its report.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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