PTI demands probe into Peshawar polls

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates from Peshawar district have formally demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities during the previous general elections, writing to the Chief Minister and the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly.

In a detailed three-page letter, PTI candidates including Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Mahmood Jan, Ali Azeem, Arbab Jahandar, Malik Shahab, Muhammad Asim, Kamran Bangash, Sajid Nawaz, and Hamidul Haq called for the formation of a special committee under Rule 237 of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly's Rules of Business to probe the alleged election fraud.

The letter claims that timely investigation could have prevented alleged irregularities in subsequent elections, such as the by-election in NA-18 Haripur. According to the PTI candidates, numerous provincial assembly seats reportedly witnessed manipulated results, particularly in Peshawar, where large-scale anomalies are alleged.

The candidates allege that all presiding officers initially provided signed Form 45 results, which were later altered. They claim that when preliminary results favored PTI, relevant computer screens were reportedly shut down, impeding transparency.

The letter also names key officials as witnesses to the incidents, including Peshawar District Returning Officer Afaq Wazir, CCPO Peshawar Ashfaq Anwar, and SSP Operations Kashif Abbasi. Additionally, it is claimed that the CCPO Peshawar prevented PTI candidates from entering the Qayyum Stadium compound during critical stages of the vote-counting process. Former Chief Secretary Nadeem Chaudhry and then Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur were allegedly present in the control rooms overseeing operations.

The PTI candidates have also stated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Peshawar High Court for further investigation. The party emphasizes that only a thorough and impartial inquiry can restore public confidence in the electoral process in the province.