ECP reputation on line in Punjab by-polls: Qureshi

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday accused the Punjab government of violating the election code of conduct in the upcoming by-polls in the province, and put a question mark on the performance of the election authorities.

Qureshi’s allegations during a press conference in Lahore prompted Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to take immediate notice and seek a report from the Punjab Election Commission within 24 hours.

Punjab is going into by-elections on 20 provincial assembly seats next month after 20 PTI lawmakers were de-seated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on court orders for voting against the party line in the election of Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister in April.

At the press conference Qureshi said that the ECP was constitutionally mandated to hold transparent elections, but now the people's confidence in the polls supervisor was diminishing.

“[By-]election is being held on 20 seats in Punjab. This election will determine the future of Hamza Shahbaz, so he will do everything possible to save his chief ministership. The Punjab government is currently trying to manage the election,” Qureshi alleged.

I see the attitude of the Punjab government. They will affect the credibility of the Election Commission,” the former foreign minister told reporters. “If you [the ECP] lose credibility, the nation will not recognise the results,” he warned.

Also read: ECP snubs Punjab by-polls rigging claim

Qureshi alleged that 14 district police officers and other government officials had been warned of dire consequences in the future if the outcome of the by-elections was not satisfactory to the Punjab government.

“Whenever we go in Multan, a special branch staffer follows us, makes videos and sends them to the administration officials. In the dark of the night, people come [to our supporters] and force them to change their loyalties,” he said.

“Rumours are doing the rounds that 18 seats will be given to the N-League [the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)] and two to the PTI. What is all this,” he asked. “This is going to be fixed elections.”

The former foreign minister further alleged that officials were involved in removing the election banners of PTI candidates and placing those of the PML-N candidates. He added that development works started by the previous PTI government were being stopped.

He also alleged that the PTI workers and the party’s election offices had been attacked. “Our office in Lahore was attacked. There were injuries in that incident,” he said, warning that if the PTI was defeated through rigging, there would be street agitation.

In Islamabad, while taking notice of the allegations, CEC Raja sought a report from the provincial election commissioner within 24 hours, sources said.

The CEC ordered strict action under the law in case of violation of the code in any constituency, the source said, adding that Raja had instructed that all the “actions should be promptly communicated to the chief election commissioner”.