Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said despite all rigging attempts made by the PTI-led government, her party won all seats in Friday’s by-polls in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
“PML-N workers snatched their seats from the jaws of crocodile and everyone knew that those seats belonged to PML-N,” she said while addressing a press conference in Lahore.
“The government in a state of chaos resorted to firing to scare the voters away so that they could not come out of their houses to cast ballots and two innocent people lost their lives,” Maryam said while referring to yesterday’s incident in Sialkot's Daska town.
“Stay tuned for my presser around 5 Insha’Allah! Will expose them with irrefutable evidence,” she tweeted ahead of today’s tell-all news conference.
Stay tuned for my presser around 5 Insha’Allah! Will expose them with irrefutable evidence.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 20, 2021
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf earlier in the day had claimed victory in the NA-75 by-elections even though the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that results of 20 polling stations in the constituency were "feared compromised".
The PTI also lost the by-polls in its stronghold, Nowshera PK-63, with the PML-N candidate winning the seat.
The ECP had restrained the authorities from announcing unofficial results of NA-75 Sialkot-VI as both the ruling party and PML-N claimed victory in the constituency.
While referring to the alleged rigging videos which were shared by her last night, Maryam said a man who could be seen sitting in car with a “white bag of ballots” was a presiding officer.
Read more: PTI claims victory in NA-75 as ECP fears ‘compromised results’ from 20 polling stations
“Presiding officer was running away with a bag full of votes in police vehicle and rangers’ personnel were also present there in Wazirabad,” she added.
She also referred to the statement of ECP wherein it said that that results of the National Assembly seat NA-75 have been halted due to “suspicion of falsification of results” from polling stations in Sialkot’s Daska.
“There is a suspicion of falsification in the results from 20 polling stations. Therefore, it is not possible to release the initial results without a complete inquiry,” read the statement.
The PML-N leader demanded of the ECP to take stern action against those allegedly involved in rigging and irregularities during yesterday’s by-elections. “Now the entire nation is looking at ECP and they need to take action to restore their credibility in the public.”
Maryam said the PTI government has bitten the dust from all provinces in by-polls which she said reflected that people of the country have rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan.
She went on to say that those who installed PM Imran into power had been facing embarrassment due his incompetence and bad governance. “For the sake of the credibility of their institution they need withdraw their support from him.”
On February 19, by-polls were held in NA-45 Kurram-1, NA-75 Sialkot-VI, PP-51 Gujranwala-1 and PK-63 Nowshera-3.
In Sialkot, the district returning officer and returning officer of NA-75 had informed the ECP that they feared compromised results from 20 polling stations.
They further informed the ECP that a fair inquiry was required over the matter and announcing results before any inquiry will not be possible.
In a press release, ECP expressed its displeasure over ‘no response’ by the Inspector General Police (IGP), Commissioner and Deputy Commission when ECP informed them about the Presiding Officers who had gone missing.
“Later ECP contacted with Chief Secretary Punjab at 3am who ensured to trace the missing officers and polling bags but later he [chief secretary] was not available.
Read more: Two killed as violent clashes mar Punjab by-polls
At 6am, the POs along with polling bags were brought before the ECP officials.
The ECP had restrained the DRO and RO from announcing the results and further ordered to bring those responsible to book after conducting an inquiry.
It also directed the provincial election commissioner and joint provincial election commissioner to visit the offices of DRO and RO to probe the matter.
The election commission stated that the incident makes the lack of administration and security evident.
PP-51 Wazirabad controversy
On Friday night, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that her party workers caught PTI workers “red-handed” allegedly trying to steal ballot papers during the by-poll for Punjab's PP-51 Wazirabad constituency.
Taking to Twitter, Maryam shared scores of videos purportedly showing unidentified persons carrying white bags and surrounded by enraged PML-N workers.
“PTI people caught red-handed stealing bags full of votes by PMLN MPA Adil Chatta and Ataa Tarar. Seal was also broken. Police was a part of the plan to steal votes for PTI," she wrote on her Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, the ECP took notice of the videos shared by the PML-N leader and summoned a report from the returning officer.
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