Refuting allegations: Fake ballot papers meant to educate voters, says JI

یار وہ تو ہم نے اپنے ووٹرز کو سکھانے کے لئے بنوائے تھے۔۔۔۔90ہزار جعلی بیلٹ پیپرز برآمدگی پر جماعت اسلامی کا بیان۔۔۔۔

PESHAWAR: 

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Monday clarified the fake ballot papers seized in Dir a day earlier were not intended for rigging, but rather to train party workers on how to cast their votes. 

Addressing a press conference at Markaz -e-Islami, JI provincial general secretary and NA-1 candidate Shabir Ahmad Khan termed the allegations a conspiracy of opponent political parties to prevent the JI’s ‘clean sweep’ in the province on May 11.

“After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) explanation about the 90,000 fake ballot papers, there is no need of any clarification from our party. Those were simple pamphlets for the training of voters in the district,” said Khan in reference to ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed’s briefing on Sunday wherein he confirmed the recovery of the papers but snubbed allegations of poll rigging.

Accusing some political parties of subterfuge to gain victory in the upcoming polls, Khan said their designs will not be successful and only the JI will form the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). He added JI chief Munawar Hassan will address a gathering on Tuesday (today) in Bannu, while another address in Peshawar will take place at 6pm on the same day.

Over 90,000 forged ballot papers were recovered from a car on Dir-Chitral Road during routine checking on Sunday. According to the police, they recovered three packets of forged ballot papers allegedly printed for national and provincial constituencies in Upper and Lower Dir.

“The vehicle, along with the two men in it, was taken into custody and election commission officials were informed,” DIG Malakand Division Abdullah Khan later told reporters.

The accused, Suleman and Aizazul Haq, residents of Khungi area in Timergara, were handed over to Chakdara police. Officials said after interrogation the police also arrested another suspect Habibullah, a resident of Odigram and owner of a printing press in Timergara.

An official of the Chakdara police told The Express Tribune initial investigations revealed that the forged ballot papers were yellow and green in colour and meant for NA-34, and PK-94, 95, 96, and 97 constituencies.

The official added a case under sections 420/468 and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been registered against the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.