ISLAMABAD – National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) which had earlier suggested the use of magnetic ink to restrict electoral rigging doesn’t have the technology to read it.
According to report of the Auditor General of Pakistan, NADRA’s current system is unable to even read the finger prints on National Identity Cards registered before 2005. The reports said that NADRA doesn’t have the technology to read magnetic ink.
The optical devices owned by NADRA can only read real-time finger prints. NADRA has now termed the use of magnetic ink as useless and suggested to choose the regularly-used ink for the elections. NADRA has confessed to not having the system after being asked by the Auditor General of Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning here that NADRA had been verifying voters and candidates after charging heavy fees and declared many candidates as disqualified. NADRA’s confession about not having the latest technology raises the question of legal position of the votes verified by it.
