Ensuring security : Rangers, police to maintain peace in by-polls

LAHORE:

For the upcoming by-polls in Punjab’s two constituencies, the Election Commission of Pakistan has sought the help of Rangers and police personnel to fortify the security arrangements. On February 19, by-polls will be held in NA-75 Daska (Sialkot) and PP-51 Wazirabad district (Gujranwala).

In this regard, the Election Commission of Punjab has also confirmed that Rangers and police personnel will be deployed at all the polling stations, barring those declared sensitive.

In PP-51 Wazirabad, a total of 22 candidates have submitted their nomination papers to the returning officer for the by-election. At least, six candidates are contesting from the PML-N.

For Sialkot’s NA-75 Daska, 16 candidates had filed the nomination papers.

According to sources, the ECP had utilised the services of the Pakistan Army in the past, but this time police and Rangers are being summoned.

The candidates have also been allotted marks after scrutiny. The seats in both the constituencies fell vacant in June and August, respectively, following the deaths of PML-N lawmakers MNA Iftikhar Hassan alias Zehra Shah and MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema.

For PP-51, three of the 10 candidates on the PML-N ticket belong to the family of deceased MPA Cheema. They include his widow Talat Mahmood, son Wahaj Shaukat and brother Khalid Manzoor Cheema. Other candidates include district President of PML-N Gujranwala Mustansir Ali Gondal, who is also a former president of the Wazirabad Bar Association, and Imtiaz Azhar Bagri, a close relative of PML-N MNA Nisar Ahmed Cheema from Wazirabad.

However, the PML-N leadership has not yet decided whether to contest the by-elections or not. PML-N sources said that the party is likely to contest the by-polls to maintain its position in its stronghold of central Punjab.

On the other hand, the ruling PTI has already nominated Muhammad Yousuf Arian as its candidate for PP-51. The other candidates are PPP Punjab Vice President and former MPA Ijaz Ahmed Saman, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nasir Mahmood, former PTI ticket holder Shabir Akram Cheema and a few independents. PTI central Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry said that the PTI candidate would win from NA-75. “We also have the support of the PML-Q. The PTI has gained support of all the communities in PP-51, however, our rival PML-N seems to be divided.”

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that the party enjoys a strong position in both the provincial and national assembly constituencies. “The PML-N had won before and would continue to do so. The government is using cheap tactics as action is being taken against Zehra Shah’s son and daughter. His son has been arrested and false charges are being filed.” PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said that if any attempt was made by the government to rig the by-polls, people would not stay silent. “The power of the vote will not permit any rigging to take place. On the day of voting, people will fight against rigging. If any attempt was made to destabilise the law and order situation, all the responsibility would be on them (the ruling party).

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2021.