PM calls for re-balloting in Daska’s 20 polling stations amid rigging allegations

Imran Khan asks PTI candidate to request for re-polling ‘even though there is no legal compulsion’

Amid allegations of rigging in recently held by-poll in Sialkot’s Daska town, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also chief of the ruling PTI, has asked his party candidate to ask for re-polling in the controversial 20 polling stations.

His statement comes a day after PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to order re-election in entire NA-75 constituency and not only on 20 polling stations.

She alleged that the PTI used several tactics to rig the by-poll including manipulating the election results of 20 polling stations by taking ECP officials hostage.

“Have always struggled for fair & free elections. So even though there is no legal compulsion to do so before ECP announces results, I would request our PTI candidate to ask for re-polling in the 20 polling stations Opposition is crying hoarse over in the Daska NA-75 bye- election,” PM Imran said on Monday in a tweet from his official handle.

Have always struggled for fair & free elections. So even though there is no legal compulsion to do so before ECP announces results, I would request our PTI candidate to ask for re-polling in the 20 polling stations Opposition is crying hoarse over in the Daska NA 75 bye- election

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 22, 2021

 

PM Imran added that his party has been calling for open ballot in the upcoming Senate elections to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

“It is because we want transparency that we are seeking open ballot for Senate elections.”

The premier said his party always wanted to strengthen a fair and free election process and lamented that other political parties lacked this commitment.

“We will always seek to strengthen a fair and free election process. Unfortunately others lack this commitment. When we wanted 4 constituencies opened after the 2013 elections, it took us over two years,” he wrote in the series of tweets.

We will always seek to strengthen a fair and free election process. Unfortunately others lack this commitment. When we wanted 4 constituencies opened after the 2013 elections, it took us over two years.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 22, 2021

 

A day earlier, PTI leaders visited Daska town and announced that their party had won the National Assembly seat but they had been waiting for official announcement to celebrate victory.

The ECP has said that results of 20 polling stations in the Sialkot’s NA-75 constituency were "feared compromised” and restrained authorities from announcing unofficial results as both the ruling party and PML-N claimed victory in the constituency.