Re-polling: Losing candidates accuse PTI of rigging

HARIPUR:

Accusing PTI government of rigging, losing candidates from various union councils demanded re-polling.

Saleem Khan Tanoli who lost to PTI candidate for the district council seat in Tarbela, Malik Muhammad Younas and two dozen candidates rejected the results of May 30’s polls.

Speaking to the media, Tanoli said PTI robbed genuine aspirants of their mandate. “It was the worst rigging incident in history – polling staff facilitated bogus voters who came from Punjab.” Without naming PTI’s local leaders, Tanoli said one group is involved in introducing “politics of hegemony” in the district. Younas said PTI ‘protested’ rigging but committed the crime in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He accused PTI’s candidates of using government machinery and resources in their union councils.

Losing candidates announced a protest against rigging on Tuesday but Haripur Deputy Commissioner Humayun Khan contacted some of the candidates and assured them of addressing complaints if they were genuine.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2015.