SANGHAR: The deputy commissioner and monitoring officer of Sanghar has ordered an inquiry into the destruction of an unspecified number of ballot papers in Khipro on Saturday.

DC Liaquat Bhatti, speaking to Dawn over phone confirmed the incident, saying that two court employees were accused of destroying the ballot papers reportedly by torching them.

“The officials concerned have been called to ascertain facts as an inquiry into the episode has been initiated,” said the deputy commissioner. He said he had received reports from “sources” about misappropriation and destruction of postal ballot of NA-216, PS-42 and PS-43. “A high-level meeting was called in Sanghar as the initial inquiry suggested that the postal ballots were destroyed,” he said.

It is learnt that two clerks of the returning officer’s office have been asked to appear before the DC in his office to explain their position after being accused of destroying the ballot papers.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018