ISLAMABAD: Senate-nominated coordinator for monitoring security of the July 25 elections Rehman Malik has written a letter to all inspectors general of police (IGPs) and home secretaries to submit a comprehensive report on the incidents of recovery of stamped ballot papers from roadsides, dustbins, drains and classrooms from various parts of the country after the elections.

“It has been noted with grave concern in the media and by the general public that a large number of official ballot papers, duly stamped on election symbols of various political parties have been spotted along roadsides, dustbins and in some classrooms which were earlier used by the election staff at polling stations in different cities of the country,” writes Mr Malik in his letter.

Mr Malik writes that the official documents/ballot papers were meant to be in the safe custody and possession of the ECP staff and other government departments concerned, but they have not been able to safeguard the ballot papers as per standard operating procedures issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Stamped ballot papers recovered from roadsides, dustbins, drains and classrooms

The letter states that this situation has raised serious questions on the general elections and apparently, it looks that there is no justification of the said bunch of ballot papers found in such public places.

“This shows an alleged irresponsible attitude of the ECP staff and other concerned staff who have failed to perform their official obligations by allowing the ballot papers to go in the unauthorised hands,” says Mr Malik, who is also the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

He directed all IGPs and home secretaries “to submit a comprehensive and consolidated report on the recovery of stamped ballot papers in their respective jurisdictions and report on the above lines if they were stolen or it was an effort to make the general elections disputed or some other motives”.

Senator Malik wants the report to be submitted by Aug 20 as the committee is scheduled to meet on Aug 27.

He has also directed the federal law secretary to examine and propose some additional legal course of action, including criminal negligence, against those who failed to protect the official documents/state property.

Mr Malik also wants the ECP secretary to look into these “unusual recoveries of ballot papers” which were the sole property of the commission.

“It will be highly appreciated, if the ECP’s own report on these discoveries be sent to the committee for submission to the upper house of parliament,” Mr Malik says in the letter.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2018