ECP orders re-polling in all polling stations of NA-75


Says by-polls were not held in a transparent manner, re-polls to be held on March 18

The Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ordered re-polling in all polling stations of NA-75 (Sialkot-IV) on March 18.

Announcing the decision, the election commission committee said that the polls were not held in a transparent manner.

The ECP annulled the by-elections under Section 9(1) of the Election Act,2017 adding that the voters were intimidated by various firing incidents.

The February 19 by-elections in the constituency were marred by incidents of rigging and clashes between the voters and supporters of rival parties — PTI and the PML-N. The violence rose to an extent that it claimed the lives of two persons, besides injuring several others.

PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar had filed an application in view of the delay in the announcement of results by 23 polling stations and requested the ECP not to include the results of these polling stations in the final results.

While talking to media outside ECP, PML-N leader and spokesperson for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, Muhammad Zubair, welcomed the ECP’s decision to re-conduct the by-elections.

“We are grateful to ECP. This decision will be written in history,” the PML-N leader said. “We also have to monitor the presiding officers."

PTI’s Nosheen Iftikhar, also speaking to the media after ECP's decision, said that she was thankful to the people and her party who trusted her.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar and Information Minister Shibli Faraz also briefed the media after the verdict was announced.

SAPM Dar said that everyone knew that PML-N wanted re-polling in 20 polling stations.

“Elections were transparent when they won in Wazirabad, but they accuse us of rigging when they lost in Sialkot,” Dar said. “PML-N disputed Daska by-election under an organised conspiracy.”

PHOTO: EXPRESS

PHOTO: EXPRESSPHOTO: EXPRESS

PHOTO: EXPRESS

ECP proceedings

Today's hearing was presided over by Chief Election Commission Sikandar Sultan Raja who was heading a three-member ECP committee.

PML-N's Counsel Salman Akram Raja prayed that the conspiracy of rigging had started before the polling day.

“The conspiracy of rigging had started even before the polling day," Salman Akram Raja said

“The Election Commission had issued a schedule banning appointments and transfers,” Counsel Raja said. “Despite the ban, Zulfiqar Virk was made DSP. The PTI candidates cannot plan such rigging on their own.”

He added that ECP ordered the removal of the DSP but instead, an SP was made in charge of security for the entire election and in the new notification Zulfiqar’s Virk name was written as Zulfiqar Ali.

On this, the ECP inquired from the PML-N counsel if he believed that Zulfiqar Virk and Zulfiqar Ali were the same people.

Read more: Maryam accuses PTI of rigging, demands re-election in NA-75

“Nausheen Iftikhar has given affidavit quoting Zulfiqar Ali,” the lawyer said further asking that who determined that elections cannot be held without Zulfiqar Virk?

“Even the Punjab IG won’t be interested in Zulfiqar Virk,” the PML-N lawyer said adding that the conspiracy to commit fraud was developed somewhere else.

“By targeting polling stations, only 22% votes were cast,” the lawyer further claimed.

The chief election commissioner inquired about the voter turnout in the general election upon which the PML-N lawyer said that it was 58%.

“Presiding officers go missing to end my client’s lead,” the lawyer said adding that after doing all the calculations, new Form 45 were filled.

“This is the first time that an Election Commission is telling the truth. It has the power to review the election process. Presiding officers' mobiles and police wireless were switched off simultaneously. Election Commission is the protector of democracy,” the PML-N lawyer further prayed.

Counsel Raja further prayed that no government official came in contact with the Chief Election Commissioner himself.

“The polling stations of the missing presiding officers were 15 to 39 kms away from the RO’s office,” Raja said.

Does PTI object to Form 45 offered by PML-N? chief election commissioner asked

“In my arguments, I will object to PML-N's Form 45,” PTI’s counsel Ali Zafar replied.

The ECP chief asked if PML-N had won in all the polling stations except the 20.

“PML-N's victory in the remaining polling stations is by a very small margin,” Counsel Raja replied. “Chief supporter of PTI candidate said that this is an election of sticks and stones.”

“It seems from the video that the words Danda and Sota were spoken as a proverb,” Sindh member of ECP said.

Nonetheless, firing occurred in the constituency though which the voters were harassed, the PML-N counsel prayed.

PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi prayed upon the ECP that the result also reached the RO from a distance of five hundred yards at half-past two in the night

“Firing happens in every election and I did not complain,” he said. “DSP was given an additional charge. There was an alleged conspiracy to keep people away from polling stations.”

PTI’s counsel added that next time in every election, firearms would be discharged and later there would be a call for re-polls.

“Voter turnouts vary around the world,” the PTI’s counsel further prayed. “There were widespread irregularity and women were not prevented from voting. Ali Asjad Malhi repeatedly requested the Returning Officer to release the results. The results were obtained through polling agents.”

He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there was no objection to re-election at 20 polling stations and Malhi has objected to re-polling as a candidate.

PTI requested ECP to release NA-75 by-election results.

The hearing has been adjourned till 3pm.

On February 23, a returning officer (RO) told the ECP that the presiding officers of 14 polling stations during February 19 by-polls at the NA-75 constituency apparently tempered the polls result and that ECP should hold a re-vote at these polling stations.

Some of the wrongdoings — like the disappearance of the election staff at nearly two dozen polling stations — were so unusual that the ECP had to concede that “it suspects rigging in NA-75 by-election.”

PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar had later filed an application in view of the delay in the announcement of results by 23 polling stations and requested the ECP not to include results of these polling stations in the final results.

She had requested the PML-N’s polling agents at the 23 polling stations to send the form-45 and later submitted the forms of 18 polling stations. The PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi had, however, expressed satisfaction at the form-45 of the presiding officers and called for announcing the final result.

Submitting a report to the ECP committee, the RO urged the ECP not to announce final results of the election before a re-vote. He said on a minute review of Forms-45, he found that the concerns raised by the PML-N candidate were justified.

 

 

 

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Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/2286175/ecp-orders-re-polling-in-all-polling-stations-of-na-75