PSP seeks repoll in NA-249

Cites irregularities with Form 45, violation of election code of conduct

KARACHI:

The Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Tuesday filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for re-polling in NA-249 constituency of Karachi where by-election was held last week.

Advocate Syed Hafeezuddin, vice chairperson of the party, while speaking to the media outside the ECP office, said that the PSP had submitted evidence of blatant rigging in NA-249 to the ECP and requested for re-polling.

He claimed that in NA-249, the public mandate has been robbed through bullying and rigging. The country needs electoral reforms, he stressed. The application sated that Form 45 was not provided to PSP Chairperson Mustafa Kamal who was contesting by-election from the constituency or his agents on the poll day particularly on 30 plus polling stations.

Form 45 is an official document which has details of ballot count signed by the returning officer.

The application said that polling agents were asked to note results from papers pasted on the wall. The application further said that the federal and provincial governments violated election code of conduct by offering financial subsidies in the form of Insaf Card and Ehsas Programme cash grants by PTI and development projects by PPP.

Moreover, it said that PSP Party Central Election office was attacked by PPP workers.

The PSP further leveled that the police and district administration were acting under the PPP leadership's directions.

PPP and PTI both violated section 17 of code of conduct in NA-249 through participation of ministers MNAs and MPAs in the campaign in all manners, claimed the PSP.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2021.