ECP forms 14 election tribunals to investigate rigging
Punjab gets 5 tribunals, three each in other provinces.
Photo of a ballot box that went viral on social media.
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) formulated 14 election tribunals across Pakistan to investigate the rigging allegations put forth by various political parties, Express News reported on Monday.
Punjab will have five tribunals while other provinces will have to suffice with three tribunals each.
A total of 14 retired judges have been selected by the ECP to head these tribunals.
A statement released by the ECP, shortly after the polls, stated that the presiding officers received threats and the election material was stolen from them by criminal elements in Karachi.
Additionally, the substitute officers appointed by the district returning officers were also threatened which is why they refused to perform their duties.
The office of the chief election commissioner was also fired upon, it said.
Apart from Karachi, protests were also staged in Lahore and Rahimyar Khan against alleged rigging in their constituencies.
CEC's assurance
Chief Election Commissioner CEC Fakruddin G Ebrahim ensured the enraged voters that their complaints will not go to waste and the ECP will take strict action against those responsible for rigging.
Additionally, returning officers and other staff present at the polling stations will also be asked to file their comments regarding the matter.
Polling was stopped at 43 polling stations in the NA-250 constituency in Karachi. Reports suggest that the ECP will hold elections at these polling stations on coming Sunday but the final decision will be made shortly.
The CEC had received numerous complaints of rigging from Hyderabad and Karachi.
Rigging
In Larkana, the police arrested PPP activist Ghulam Rasool at the Baqrani tower polling station, trying to cast fake vote.
Police said the PPP workers were distributing voters’ chits in Maqbool Colony, on Election Day when some JI workers arrived on the scene and stopped the PPP workers.
Videos of rigging and photographs of torn ballot papers went viral, on social media, on the eve of election day.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) formulated 14 election tribunals across Pakistan to investigate the rigging allegations put forth by various political parties, Express News reported on Monday.
Punjab will have five tribunals while other provinces will have to suffice with three tribunals each.
A total of 14 retired judges have been selected by the ECP to head these tribunals.
A statement released by the ECP, shortly after the polls, stated that the presiding officers received threats and the election material was stolen from them by criminal elements in Karachi.
Additionally, the substitute officers appointed by the district returning officers were also threatened which is why they refused to perform their duties.
The office of the chief election commissioner was also fired upon, it said.
Apart from Karachi, protests were also staged in Lahore and Rahimyar Khan against alleged rigging in their constituencies.
CEC's assurance
Chief Election Commissioner CEC Fakruddin G Ebrahim ensured the enraged voters that their complaints will not go to waste and the ECP will take strict action against those responsible for rigging.
Additionally, returning officers and other staff present at the polling stations will also be asked to file their comments regarding the matter.
Polling was stopped at 43 polling stations in the NA-250 constituency in Karachi. Reports suggest that the ECP will hold elections at these polling stations on coming Sunday but the final decision will be made shortly.
The CEC had received numerous complaints of rigging from Hyderabad and Karachi.
Rigging
In Larkana, the police arrested PPP activist Ghulam Rasool at the Baqrani tower polling station, trying to cast fake vote.
Police said the PPP workers were distributing voters’ chits in Maqbool Colony, on Election Day when some JI workers arrived on the scene and stopped the PPP workers.
Videos of rigging and photographs of torn ballot papers went viral, on social media, on the eve of election day.