Lahore (Staff Report/Agencies): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) statement regarding NA-75 Daska Sialkot-VI constituency as a “charge sheet” against the government.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said that results of more than 20 polling stations for NA-75 Daska Sialkot-VI constituency are “feared compromised”.
In a an explanatory statement on the delay and suspension of the by-election results for the NA-75 Daska constituency, the ECP said that several attempts were made to contact the presiding officers, but no response was received from them.
ECP also expressed its displeasure over ‘no response’ by the Inspector General Police (IGP), Commissioner and Deputy Commission when ECP informed them about the Presiding Officers who had gone missing.
“Later ECP contacted with Chief Secretary Punjab at 3AM who ensured to trace the missing officers and polling bags but later he [chief secretary] was not available.
At 6AM, the Presiding Officers (PO) along with polling bags were brought before the ECP officials.
The ECP had restrained the District Returning Officer (DRO) and Returning Officer (RO) from announcing the results and further ordered to bring those responsible to book after conducting an inquiry.
It further directed the provincial election commissioner and joint provincial election commissioner to visit the offices of DRO and RO to probe the matter.
The results for NA-75 Daska were withheld by the RO on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’ (PML-N) request after the alleged disappearance of some members of the polling staff.