SC seeks affidavit on Karachi vote verification
08 February, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought affidavit from Sindh Election Commissioner regarding door-to-door verification of electoral lists in Karachi under the supervision of armed forces. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, was hearing a petition, filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, regarding registration of bogus votes in Karachi. Counsel for PTI chief, Hamid Khan, told the bench that despite court orders, Election Commission teams were not carrying out door-to-door verification of voter lists in the presence of FC and army. He requested the court to issue execution orders regarding its earlier verdict for verification. The chief justice remarked that Election Commission should submit a written reply stating details about division of city into parts for verification of voter lists. The bench observed that it would ask defence secretary to submit a reply on number of army personnel engaged in the process of verification. The chief justice said the case had other aspects including the enrollment of overseas Pakistanis in the voter lists. Justice Gulzar said 647 persons were living in a house in PECHS area of Karachi and added that it was a test case for the ECP. The case was adjourned till February 13. Major political parties, including Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami, had expressed concerns regarding alleged transfer of 2.7 millions voters from Karachi to other areas of the country. They had requested the Supreme Court to order door-to-door verification of electoral rolls in Karachi. End.
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