Drama at ECP hearing on LG polls

Presiding officers refuse to confirm results in custody of polling agents

ISLAMABAD:

There were several terse exchanges as the election commission (ECP) heard the case pertaining to claims of rigging in Karachi's local body polls.

During the hearing, the ECP expressed displeasure over the behavior of the assistant commissioner of Orangi Town, with the chief election commissioner saying that he should write to Sindh's chief secretary to get him suspend.

The situation arose after the ECP commission questioned the presiding officers over the alleged inconsistency. The presiding officers excused themselves from confirming the results in the custody of polling agents while telling the court that they had provided the results to the returning officers and did not have the original.

The ECP warned the presiding officers to reconsider their answers as failure to tell the truth would not only result in them getting fired but also going to prison for perjury.

During this exchange, a ECP commission member turned to the Orangi Town AC and asked him what he was doing when the alleged irregularities took place.

Upon this, the AC reportedly said the following: "I am a human being. I can only do one thing at a time. How can I do everything? Even you have called me thrice in this the case."

Commission member Ikramullah Khania said that he had performed the duties of the AC in the past but had never behaved in such a manner. He added that a commission member wanted the AC arrested over the behaviour.

Sindh minister Saeed Ghani acknowledged that the official's behavior was inappropriate while seeking the court's forgiveness on the AC's behalf.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2023.