ECP rejects allegations of rigging in NA-18 Haripur by-elections

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday issued a press release stating that certain elements, as usual, are leveling baseless allegations to make the recent by-elections—particularly NA-18 Haripur—controversial.

These allegations include portraying the appointment of the District Returning Officer (DRO) and Returning Officer (RO) in NA-18 Haripur as a conspiracy.

The ECP said these claims are completely contrary to facts. It explained that during general elections, due to staff shortages, the Commission is unable to appoint DROs and ROs; however, in by-elections, such appointments are made as per requirements.

Accordingly, in this by-election, officers already posted in the area were appointed as DRO and RO.

The Commission emphasized that under the Elections Act 2017, it has full legal authority to appoint District Returning Officers and Returning Officers, a practice it has always followed.

It further stated that DROs and ROs are appointed well before polling day, yet no objections were raised by any party until election day. These allegations surfaced only after defeat. The ECP noted that there are proper forums available for resolving disputes after elections. If a Returning Officer had refused to receive any application, the concerned party should have approached the Election Commission, but this was not done.

Similarly, the ECP said that after elections, requests to halt consolidation or seek recounting must first be made to the Returning Officer, and if denied, the party must approach the Commission within the stipulated time. This procedure was also not followed.

The allegation that Form-45s were pre-prepared was described as false. The ECP clarified that all presiding officers and assisting staff were taken from the provincial administration. It added that if the Commission had intended, it could have appointed federal institution employees posted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as presiding officers, but it did not do so.

The Commission further stated that after polling, the provincial administration’s staff deposited polling bags and results at the Returning Officer’s office, while security arrangements were also handled by the provincial government. Repeating identical baseless allegations after every election, it said, is merely an attempt to cast doubt on the electoral process.

The ECP stressed that if any party has objections to the election results, the appropriate forum is the election tribunal, which is already in place, where an election petition can be filed—rather than making accusations in the media.

The Commission reaffirmed that it conducted the by-elections strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law and will continue to do so.