Ahsan Iqbal demands inquiry into 'abduction' of NA-75 presiding officers

Dunya News

Ahsan Iqbal accused Firdous Ashiq Awan of interfering in election process

DASKA (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has welcomed decision of returning officer to withhold results of NA-75 and demanded an inquiry into alleged ‘abduction’ of presiding officers of several polling stations.

Talking to media persons, former Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tried to rig the election and polling was stopped for several hours in some polling stations.

The PML-N leader also accused Firdous Ashiq Awan of trying to alter the results of the elections and said that even PTI workers condemned the attitude of the CM’s aide. Ahsan Iqbal also lauded returning officer for resisting alleged government pressure.

On the other hand, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered abduction of election commission’s staff after suffering a defeat in the election and said that FIR of the incident should be filed against Imran Khan and CM Usman Buzdar.

Earlier, the returning officer in NA-75 Daska withheld by-poll result and the final outcome will now be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

According to the unofficial results of 337 polling stations, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Nosheen Iftikhar (97,588 votes) was leading Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Ali Asjad Malhi (94,541 votes). However, results of 23 polling stations were delayed.

Let it be known that the seat of NA-75 Tehsil Daska, District Sialkot was vacated after the death of PML-N’s MNA Syed Iftikhar-ud-Din in August 2020. PML-N gave ticket to his daughter, Nosheen Iftikhar, in the by-election.