Delimitation: PTI to take up issue with election tribunal

The party will also file to hold re-elections in NA-54 once the areas are demarcated.

RAWALPINDI:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) district chapter has decided to take up with the Election Tribunal the issue of delimitation of 10 wards falling within the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Anjum Aqeel Khan had lodged an objection with the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), asking the board to demarcate areas falling within the revenue estate of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) saying thousands of voters from areas falling within the ICT cast their ballots in NA-54 and PP-10 constituency, instead of NA-48.

The party will also file appeal in the tribunal to hold re-elections in NA-54 once the areas were demarcated and included in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Talking to The Express Tribune, PTI candidate for NA-54 Hina Manzoor, who lost the seat to the PML-N’s candidate Malik Ibrar in the general elections, said that the PTI was also pursuing litigation at the election tribunal regarding re-election in the constituency.

The areas mentioned in the objection filed by Anjum Aqeel, consist of 36 blocks with 19,933 registered voters.

Manzoor said that she will also file an application for demarcation of the areas which were allegedly used by the PML-N to win the elections.

“It is another proof of rigging in the elections,” she said, demanding re-election in NA-54 and PP-10. She said the RCB could not hold elections beyond its limits under section 3 (2) of the Cantonment Act 1924.

According to the District Election Commission, 55 to 60 per cent of votes in these areas were mostly polled in PML-N’s favour. When contacted, Chief Executive Officer RCB, Rana Manzoor Ahmad Khan said, “We have gone through the objections and will decide on the matter soon. After the decision, if anyone disagrees, he could go to the court.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.