KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aslam Khan on Sunday alleged that they caught Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) ‘vote rigging’ during local government (LG) polls in UC-4 New Karachi, ARY News reported.
A video has surfaced which showed the whole book of stamped ballot papers for PPP candidates recovered from polling station number 18 of UC-4 New Karachi.
MNA Aslam Khan claimed that they found a complete booklet of ballot papers in which stamps were present on the PPP’s election symbol. He added that a presiding officer (PO) allegedly provided the stamped ballot papers to the PPP candidate and some policemen were casting the votes.
READ: SINDH LG BY-ELECTIONS: POLLING CONCLUDES IN 24 DISTRICTS
The PTI lawmaker said that the election commission and policemen are playing the role of PPP’s facilitators in the LG polls.
CEC takes notice
Following the mismanagement in the LG and by-polls in 24 districts of Sindh, the chief election commissioner (CEC) has taken notice and ordered strict action against the responsible.
The spokesperson of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that CEC ordered action against the untoward incident at UC-119 of Hyderabad in which ballot papers were snatched and polling staffers and voters were tortured.
The spokesperson added that the ECP secretary made a telephonic conversation with the Sindh chief secretary and Inspector General (IG) Sindh and ordered indiscriminate action against the responsible.
Brawl in Hyderabad’s UC-119
Earlier in the day, following the brawl between groups during Sindh LG by-elections, the polling was suspended in Hyderabad’s UC 119.
As per details, two groups of candidates contesting an election in UC 119 of Hyderabad clashed and during the process, the ballot papers and lists were ‘looted.’
The policemen were also mistreated by the supporters of the candidates, while the polling staff was also forced to leave the polling.
Getting information about the clash, the provincial election commissioner and the district returning officer suspended the polling in UC 119 of Hyderabad.
It may be noted that the by-elections were held on the remaining 56 seats of Local bodies in five divisions of Sindh.
Anwar Khan reports on health,education and civic issues for ARY News Karachi
