ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research said on Thursday that it had supplied magnetic ink for the general elections, 2013, as per specifications given to it by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid told Dawn that he contacted PCSIR chairman Dr Shaukat Parvez after the disclosure that the magnetic ink had not been used in two National Assembly constituencies in Karachi.

He quoted the PCSIR chairman as saying that the ink had been supplied in conformity with required specifications and that it was magnetic ink.

The minister said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain if non-magnetic ink had been used only in a few constituencies in Karachi or in all polling stations all over the country.

Mr Hamid said he had directed the science and technology secretary to conduct investigation.

The remarks came a day after the chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority disclosed that the magnetic ink, which was supposed to be used for thumbimpressions on the photographed electoral rolls, had not been used in NA-256 and NA258, changing the nature of what otherwise was supposed to be a verifiable document.

ECP secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan had told reporters on Wednesday that the role of ECP was confined to policy-making and it was not possible for it to remain present at around 70,000 polling stations. He said the ink was to be supplied by the PCSIR.

When contacted, a PTI leader said the revelation had solidified the stance of his party about poll riggings. `That is why we have been clamouring for months for biometric verification in at least four constituencies,` he remarked.

He said the irregularities which had come to fore so far clearly showed connivance of polling staff in poll rigging.

The PTI leader called for accountability of all people, including returning officers, district returning officers, presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, allegedly involved in the electoral fraud.

He pointed out that overwriting on form 14 and issuance of more than one ballot paper to thousands of individuals was not possible without connivance of polling staff.