Taking stock: Election declared void in city’s 26 stations
Report submitted to chief secretary highlights irregularities
Members of different political parties crowd the road outside Peshawar Press Club. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Taking notice of rigging allegations and other irregularities reported in the recently-concluded local government elections, DC Riaz Mehsud, who is also district returning officer (DRO) for Peshawar, has declared elections in 26 polling stations invalid.
Speaking to journalists at his office on Monday, Mehsud said elections in Kakshal, Banamarhi, Hazar Khwani, Urmar Payan, Mashokhel and 21 other polling stations were void. He said the decision was taken after irregularities were observed, including rigging, violent clashes and lack of proper arrangements.
According to the DRO, his recommendations about the polling stations have been submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan and it is now the ECP’s responsibility to hold re-elections there.
Earlier on Sunday, Chief Secretary Amjid Ali Khan had sought a report from the DRO on the irregularities and violence on election day (May 30).
A senior government official while requesting he remain unnamed as he was not authorised to speak to the media told The Express Tribune Mehsud submitted the detailed report to Amjid on Sunday night.
According to insiders, the report outlined that in many places polling material was not delivered to polling stations on time, while officials of the education department were also assigned to stations without consulting the ECP.
The compiled document also showed aside from delayed delivery, symbols of candidates were missing from ballot papers, disrupting the process.
Giving more details of observations listed in the report, he said security arrangements were not satisfactory and one official was assigned to two separate polling stations, while in some areas the election commission had assigned teachers who had passed away long ago.
Demands for re-election
Accusing Chief Minister Pervez Khattak of rigging, the district chapter of the Awami National Party has demanded ECP to hold a re-election in all polling stations of PK-13, Nowshera-II.
“CM Khattak spent the entire day in his constituency on May 30,” said ANP Nowshera leader Shahid Khan at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club. A large number of ANP leaders were present on the occasion.
Shahid claimed bogus votes were cast in Manki Sharif polling station – the CM’s hometown.
According to him, on the CM’s directives, police created hurdles for ANP’s voters, while voting continued till 12am in the constituency also on his directives.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2015.
Taking notice of rigging allegations and other irregularities reported in the recently-concluded local government elections, DC Riaz Mehsud, who is also district returning officer (DRO) for Peshawar, has declared elections in 26 polling stations invalid.
Speaking to journalists at his office on Monday, Mehsud said elections in Kakshal, Banamarhi, Hazar Khwani, Urmar Payan, Mashokhel and 21 other polling stations were void. He said the decision was taken after irregularities were observed, including rigging, violent clashes and lack of proper arrangements.
According to the DRO, his recommendations about the polling stations have been submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan and it is now the ECP’s responsibility to hold re-elections there.
Earlier on Sunday, Chief Secretary Amjid Ali Khan had sought a report from the DRO on the irregularities and violence on election day (May 30).
A senior government official while requesting he remain unnamed as he was not authorised to speak to the media told The Express Tribune Mehsud submitted the detailed report to Amjid on Sunday night.
According to insiders, the report outlined that in many places polling material was not delivered to polling stations on time, while officials of the education department were also assigned to stations without consulting the ECP.
The compiled document also showed aside from delayed delivery, symbols of candidates were missing from ballot papers, disrupting the process.
Giving more details of observations listed in the report, he said security arrangements were not satisfactory and one official was assigned to two separate polling stations, while in some areas the election commission had assigned teachers who had passed away long ago.
Demands for re-election
Accusing Chief Minister Pervez Khattak of rigging, the district chapter of the Awami National Party has demanded ECP to hold a re-election in all polling stations of PK-13, Nowshera-II.
“CM Khattak spent the entire day in his constituency on May 30,” said ANP Nowshera leader Shahid Khan at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club. A large number of ANP leaders were present on the occasion.
Shahid claimed bogus votes were cast in Manki Sharif polling station – the CM’s hometown.
According to him, on the CM’s directives, police created hurdles for ANP’s voters, while voting continued till 12am in the constituency also on his directives.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2015.