More inky thumbs: Deployment of army demanded for by-elections in NA-19
Haripur locals, candidates insist free and fair elections require boots on ground.
Haripur locals, candidates insist free and fair elections require boots on ground. PHOTO: ONLINE
HARIPUR:
As nominees of parties ruling in the Centre and province —Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf — become desperate to bag the NA-19 seat, voters and candidates are demanding foolproof security arrangements during the by-elections in Haripur set for August 16.
PML-N’s candidate Babar Nawaz Khan has formally filed an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan, demanding deployment of military troops during elections. In his application, Babar expressed the fear that if the military is not deployed then chances of security lapse as well as rigging cannot be ruled out.
A PML-N activist, Shabbir Khan, was of the view that PTI has a track record of using official machinery to their own advantage. For election’s to be fair, free, transparent, the deployment of Army troops was imperative, said Shabbir.
Local observations
Local trader Sher Afzal Khan also expressed concerns over the law and order situation, saying over 300 polling stations out of 537 were sensitive during the last election. This time, Sher Afzal said, the situation was quite different as some candidates have personal feuds and there were chances federal and provincial governments getting involved. He added elections under the supervision of the army were the need of the hour.
“The voters are fed up of re-elections and re-counting and now we have by-elections,” said Sher Afzal.
When approached for comments, Anjuman Taraqi Pasand Musanafeen General Secretary Professor Waheed Qureshi said the constituency already suffered during the last two and half years as contestants of both PTI and PML-N remained engaged in litigation. He added the constituents underwent the irksome exercise of counting, recounting and re-election in seven polling stations and now over 500,000 voters will step out once again to elect their MNA.
“Not only should the deployment of military troops at all the polling stations be ensured,” he said, “But independent observers should also be allowed in for proper monitoring of the election.”
“These politicians have already wasted the precious time and resources of voters, and now they should not be made to suffer again,” said a Pakistan Peoples Party activist, Jehangir Khan.
Staying neutral
Although Jamaat-e-Islami is a coalition partner of PTI in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, JI’s district chapter has already decided to stay neutral during the by-elections. It has asked party members to avoid taking part in canvasing, delivering speeches for any of the candidates or sitting on the stage of public meetings or arranging corner meetings for any of the contestants.
JI district chief Ghazan Iqbal Khan Tareen was of the view that members of JI are free to use their vote as per their will and preference. He has also demanded the military be deployed during the by-elections but only at sensitive polling stations.
He said, “In order to make the election fair and free, it should be held under the supervision of judiciary rather than district and assistant commissioners who are answerable to the provincial government, and could hence follow the government’s line.”
However, PPP’s candidate for NA-19 Haji, Tahir Qureshi, commented there were chances of the provincial government applying influence, but the returning officers and other election staff should be trusted instead of calling the military to keep a check.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2015.
As nominees of parties ruling in the Centre and province —Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf — become desperate to bag the NA-19 seat, voters and candidates are demanding foolproof security arrangements during the by-elections in Haripur set for August 16.
PML-N’s candidate Babar Nawaz Khan has formally filed an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan, demanding deployment of military troops during elections. In his application, Babar expressed the fear that if the military is not deployed then chances of security lapse as well as rigging cannot be ruled out.
A PML-N activist, Shabbir Khan, was of the view that PTI has a track record of using official machinery to their own advantage. For election’s to be fair, free, transparent, the deployment of Army troops was imperative, said Shabbir.
Local observations
Local trader Sher Afzal Khan also expressed concerns over the law and order situation, saying over 300 polling stations out of 537 were sensitive during the last election. This time, Sher Afzal said, the situation was quite different as some candidates have personal feuds and there were chances federal and provincial governments getting involved. He added elections under the supervision of the army were the need of the hour.
“The voters are fed up of re-elections and re-counting and now we have by-elections,” said Sher Afzal.
When approached for comments, Anjuman Taraqi Pasand Musanafeen General Secretary Professor Waheed Qureshi said the constituency already suffered during the last two and half years as contestants of both PTI and PML-N remained engaged in litigation. He added the constituents underwent the irksome exercise of counting, recounting and re-election in seven polling stations and now over 500,000 voters will step out once again to elect their MNA.
“Not only should the deployment of military troops at all the polling stations be ensured,” he said, “But independent observers should also be allowed in for proper monitoring of the election.”
“These politicians have already wasted the precious time and resources of voters, and now they should not be made to suffer again,” said a Pakistan Peoples Party activist, Jehangir Khan.
Staying neutral
Although Jamaat-e-Islami is a coalition partner of PTI in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, JI’s district chapter has already decided to stay neutral during the by-elections. It has asked party members to avoid taking part in canvasing, delivering speeches for any of the candidates or sitting on the stage of public meetings or arranging corner meetings for any of the contestants.
JI district chief Ghazan Iqbal Khan Tareen was of the view that members of JI are free to use their vote as per their will and preference. He has also demanded the military be deployed during the by-elections but only at sensitive polling stations.
He said, “In order to make the election fair and free, it should be held under the supervision of judiciary rather than district and assistant commissioners who are answerable to the provincial government, and could hence follow the government’s line.”
However, PPP’s candidate for NA-19 Haji, Tahir Qureshi, commented there were chances of the provincial government applying influence, but the returning officers and other election staff should be trusted instead of calling the military to keep a check.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2015.