Officials involved in Daska rigging to face action

Departmental action expected against all those found involved in NA-75 Daska rigging

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to take judicial action against the officials involved in rigging in the NA-75 Daska (Sialkot-IV) by-elections with departmental action also being expected against all those involved.

The ECP had initiated an inquiry on the allegations of rigging in the NA-75 Daska (Sialkot-IV) by-elections. The NA-75 Daska seat was vacated due to the death of former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentarian Syed Iftikhar ul Hassan Shah. By-elections were conducted for the seat, which were contested between Iftikhar ul Hassan’s daughter Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Ali Asjad Malhi.

The matter went to the Supreme Court on allegations of fraud and subsequently the election results were declared null and void. A re-election was held in which the PML-N candidate Nosheen Iftikhar defeated the PTI candidate.

In a written decision, the ECP informed that it has initiated judicial action on the NA-75 Daska (Sialkot-IV) by-elections inquiry report, starting by seeking drafts of criminal complaints from the concerned departments. Recommendations have also been sought by the ECP for setting up inquiry committees for departmental action.

Relevant departments of the Election Commission have been directed to submit recommendations for approval within a week. The ECP decision also said that it should be ensured that no officer involved in rigging is assigned any future election duty.