Post-election allegations: Bajaur candidates accuse political administration of rigging

“I have proof of the blatant rigging on Election Day," says JI candidate.

KHAR:

Losing candidates of NA-43 and NA-44 in Bajaur Agency have accused the political administration and security forces of rigging the polls.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate from NA-44 Shahabuddin Khan and an independent candidate from NA-43 Haji Bismillah, who is also the father of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shaukatullah Khan, won in Saturday’s polls.

During separate press conferences in Khar Press Club and Naway Kallay Press Club, losing candidates of NA-44 and NA-43 respectively, alleged that PML-N candidates rigged the polls, further accusing the governor of influencing polls.

“We will not accept Shahabuddin’s victory,” said Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Sardar Khan, who also contested from NA-44.  He claimed that at 5pm on Sunday, security forces and political administration (PA) officials in Arang, Barang and Ghar Shamozai areas of NA-44, took away the ballot boxes before they were even counted.

Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Akhundzada Chattan backed Sardar Khan’s claim, adding that in Haji Long, the political agent cast votes on some prisoners’ identity cards. Guldad Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said when women in Pashat and Salarzai came to cast their votes, officials did not let them enter saying there was a security threat and cast votes on their (the women’s) names.

JI candidate from NA-43 Haroon Rasheed said they had frequently complained that the governor was involved in influencing tribesmen to vote for his father by promising them money. “I have proof of the blatant rigging on Election Day,” he claimed.

Zafar Khan, the PTI candidate from the same constituency, refused to accept the result alleging that PA officials were also involved in campaigning and rigging for the governor’s father.

The candidates of both constituencies said if action by the Election Commission of Pakistan was not taken, they would hold protests and take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.