The verdict will be announced at 3pm today
ISLAMABAD:
The Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved the verdict in the controversial by-elections held in NA-75 (Sialkot-IV).
The decision wheatear to hold re-elections or announcing the results of the constituency would be delivered at 3pm today.
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.
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.
“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.