ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) the missing biometric data of voters in the NA-120 constituency where a by-poll is scheduled for Sept 17.

The commission has written a letter to Nadra for the missing fingerprints data, an ECP spokesman said on Friday.

After examination and analysis, the ECP found that the biometric fingerprints data of 29,607 out of the 321,786 voters was missing, the letter said.

The ECP will use the data to conduct a pilot project ahead of the by-election.

The NA-120 (Lahore-III) seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court in its July 28 verdict disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from holding any public and party office.

His wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, is contesting the polls on the ticket of the ruling PML-N in an attempt to retain her husband’s post.

The by-poll is said to be a litmus test of popularity for both the PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which has fielded Dr Yasmin Rashid as its candidate against Begum Nawaz.

ECP’s Additional Secretary Fida Mohammad Khan told a press conference last week that the biometric data of around 30,000 voters in the constituency was missing.

Mr Khan said the ECP had already decided to install biometric verification machines at 100 polling booths in 39 polling stations on a test basis.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2017