ECP to probe Imran Khan's allegations of rigging in NA-68
The ECP has sought record of registered votes and voting lists from the returning officers.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to probe the allegations of rigging leveled by Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.
According to the spokesman, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), would check the record of a polling station of NA-68 constituency about which the PTI chief had stated that there were only 1, 500 registered voters in that but the number of polled votes was 8, 000.
The spokesman further said that ECP has written a letter to the returning officers to send the record of polled and registered voters so that the reality should be brought to the fore.
The spokesman added that more than 100% turnout was not possible as the ballot papers are issued to any constituency according to the number of registered votes.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had won the seat from NA-68 constituency in Sargodha. Imran Khan had blamed that the polling was rigged in the constituency.
The PTI chief has been demanding the thumb impression in four constituencies. He said election rigging complaints had not been addressed by election tribunals and an inquiry would only ensure that the next elections are not rigged.
On May 11, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a public rally at D-Chowk to protest against alleged election rigging.
Addressing the rally, the PTI chief presented his charter of demand for election reforms.
The demands included, reformation of Election Commission, biometric verification of voters identities in four constituencies, action against those involved in rigging, making all Returning Officers (ROs) accountable to election commission for future elections, hearing of post-election appeals within 120 days of the filing, introduction of electronic and biometric voting systems to eliminate the chances of rigging, appointment of impartial caretakers, granting right to vote to overseas Pakistanis in light of Supreme Court’s decision.
Imran Khan had invited all political parties to work together and jointly produce a comprehensive election reform package. He vowed to work together with all political parties for the improvement of the system.
The PTI chief announced that Tsunami will next hit Faisalabad on May 23. He further announced that his party will now hold protests outside election commission office every Friday and that his party’s Tsunami is ‘unstoppable’.
On the other hand, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced to take action against those casting more than one vote during general elections 2013.
A meeting of ECP headed by Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Nasirul Mulk held here on Monday.
The meeting decided to get the report of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) from the tribunals engaged in hearing election petitions.
After the reception of NADRA report, the ECP would decide about the action against those casting more than one vote.
As per section 80 of Representation of the People Act, voting more than once is violation of election rules and those involved in bogus voting could face three years’ imprisonment or 5,000 fine or both.
