Awan today submitted a written statement on behalf of Khan in a case pertaining to the violation of secrecy of ballot, claiming that the prime minister-in-waiting had not deliberately shown his vote while casting the ballot in the July 25 general elections.
Khan, accompanied by friends and supporters, had openly cast his vote in the NA-53 constituency where he was contesting election against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of PML-N and PPP’s Syed Sibtul Haider.
Instead of going behind the voting screen to cast his vote in private, the PTI chief preferred to publicly stamp the ballot paper placing it on the table of the election officer, with TV cameras filming him. Surprisingly, the presiding officer and other polling staff did not object to the violation.
Awan argued in the statement that Khan’s prior permission was not sought before filming him cast his vote. He claimed that the secrecy screen behind which a voter is supposed to stamp the ballot had fallen due to the room being crowded.
Khan had even asked election officials where he should stand to stamp the ballot papers, he claimed.
The counsel urged the ECP to dismiss the case regarding violation of vote secrecy and issue the notification of Khan’s victory from NA-53.
After initially reserving its verdict, the ECP bench rejected the written statement submitted by Awan as it did not have Khan’s signature on it.
The commission directed the counsel to submit the response signed by the PTI chief. The hearing of the case was adjourned until Friday (tomorrow).
Awan had earlier sought to verbally apologise on Khan’s behalf in the matter, but the ECP bench informed him that the nature of the case required that a written response be submitted, instead of an apology.
Under Section 185 (a) of the Elections Act 2017, an election official or a candidate, election agent or polling agent, a voter at a polling station or any person present during vote counting is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs1,000 or with both, if he/she fails to maintain secrecy of voting or aids in violating secrecy of voting.
