LAHORE: The inspection judge of a local commission, Ghulam Hussain Awan, recorded his statement on Saturday before election tribunal judge Justice Kazim Ali Malik regarding irregularities in NA-122 polling stations and also submitted a report in this regard. NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had sought a recount and verification of voters' thumb impressions.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 and the party had challenged the results.

Awan told the tribunal judge today that due to the negligence of polling staff, ballot bags with broken seals have been included in the report along with invalid votes and different coloured ballot papers.

Judge Kazim stated that if what the report states is true, he will personally inspect the NA-122 ballots and form a decision based on the commission's findings, adding that he will take action against rigging in NA-122 polling stations in accordance with the law.

The tribunal judge has also summoned 150 witnesses on January 31, the list of whom Sadiq's lawyer submitted to the tribunal today, stating that 'Imran Khan is untruthful'. The witnesses will provide evidence on the fact that rigging did not take place in the said constituency.

Previously, the commission which was tasked to inspect the record of the NA-122 constituency, where National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq had been declared winner, submitted its report to the election tribunal earlier this week.

Know more: NA-122: commission submits its report to election tribunal

The commission was directed to de-seal/open polling bags to check whether they had been closed with a proper seal or with a broken or damaged seal.

It was also required to check the number of polled ballots which did not bear the stamp and signature of a presiding officer or an assistant presiding officer.

According to the 42-page report, the commission found 180,115 verified votes and 23,639 without signature/ stamp of the authorised polling staff. It declared that 3,642 votes were invalid or rejected.

The report said Sadiq obtained 92,393 votes whereas Khan received 83,542 votes. The remaining 4,180 votes went to other candidates.

It further revealed that 806 votes in Form-14 did not match the counterfoils. Based on these findings, the commission submitted a report to the tribunal today.

Also read: Claim, counter-claim by govt, PTI about recount for NA-122

Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had previously claimed that victory margin of Ayaz Sadiq has ‘increased’ after a vote recount in Lahore’s NA-122 constituency.

Making a counter-claim, PTI said that ‘polling fraud has been exposed’ after the vote recount, and urged the National Assembly to ‘prepare resignation’ of the speaker.

Khan files petition in tribunal

Imran Khan filed an application in the election tribunal, alleging that two different coloured ballot papers were obtained from 34 polling stations after an inspection.

The petition requested the tribunal to conduct an investigation into the said matter.

Accepting the application for hearing, the tribunal will take up the matter on Jan 31.