Flexing muscle: ‘By-election will unmask rigging in general elections’

Tareen says they have asked for Army supervision during election

BAHAWALPUR:

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s 126 days of dharna (sit in) in Islamabad had instilled a spirit of patriotism and awoken the masses, PTI general secretary Jahangir Tareen said on Wednesday. The by-election in Lodhran on October 11, will expose the massive rigging in the general elections carried out by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, he said.

“Instead of hiding behind its trusted judges, the PML-N should test its mettle on the ground…the era of politics of dirty deals is over.” He said he was hopeful that the PML-N’s rigging would be exposed in the coming by-election. “Our workers will prove that.”

Tareen was speaking to journalists in Bahawalpur at the residence of former union council nazim Malik Majeed Channar.

He said the by-election in Lodhran would be on time. “Our numbers are increasing by the day. The government’s claims of good governance have been dashed.” Tareen said the PML-N’s two-and-a-half years in power were fraught with problems at every front. “People’s problems have only increased. Development funds meant for south Punjab were wasted on the Metro Bus project.”



He said the Nandipur Project, built at a cost of Rs60 billion, had been operational for three days after which it was shut down. “Let there be no mistake. The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park project will fare no better than the Nandipur project.”

The PTI leader said the PML-N had panicked after PTI chairman Imran Khan’s address in Vehari and announced the Kissan Package, which Tareen claimed, was mere window-dressing. “Not unlike the Metro Bus projects.” To a question, he said the PTI had requested that the Army be deployed inside and in front of polling stations in order to ensure transparent polling. “This government espouses organised rigging and will once again want to skew results in its favour.”  Tareen said the PTI had proof that the PML-N was using government officials to campaign for its candidate in the by-election. “I have written to the relevant departments and have pointed out the officials.”

Political interference in police and administrative bodies has left the entire system hollow, he said. “This is why we have asked for Army’s supervision of the election.”  

Local government polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued the schedule for local body elections in Bahawalpur district. According to a press release issued by Bahawalpur District Election Commissioner Muhammad Shahid, local body elections in the district will be held on December 3, 2015.

Returning officials will issue a public notice in this regard on September 28. Nomination papers can be submitted to returning officers from October 3 to 7. The papers will be scrutinised from October 8 to 13. Appeals against acceptance or dismissal of nominations can be filed till October 30. On November 5, the election tribunal will give a final decision regarding the appeals.

Candidates can withdraw their nominations on November 6. They will be assigned electoral symbols on November 7 and the final list of candidates will be issued the same day. December 3, will be the polling day.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.