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Parties cry foul as election results pour in; ECP denies allegations
Dawn.comUpdated July 25, 2018
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As preliminary election results started rolling in, political party leaders began crying foul over the process of counting of votes, with the PPP, PML-N and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) alleging that their polling agents had been expelled from certain polling stations as counting went underway.
Marriyum Aurangzeb speaks to media in Lahore after polling ends. ─ DawnNewsTV
PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb and Mussadiq Malik both alleged that the party's polling agents had been forced out of polling stations in various constituencies where counting is underway.
"The counting process is being carried out behind closed doors and changes are being made to Form-45," Aurangzeb alleged while talking to media persons.
Malik alleged that the "security apparatus has taken over the polling stations".
He claimed that election results have been withheld in the following constituencies:
Rabbani said: "Throwing out polling agents is a serious issue with serious repercussions. Polling agents are being thrown out in Badin, and results are being withheld in PS-66 Hyderabad."
Rabbani called for the ECP to address the complaints made, and asked for Form-45 to be handed over to winning candidates.
"We said this earlier too, that if the will of the people is manipulated this way, there will be serious consequences," he added.
Sherry Rehman claimed, "There has been a clear trend of interference, in which all parties except one are being pushed to the wall."
She said that all of Malir's NA results had been withheld, adding that the PPP had received more than 250 complaints.
Similar reports have been received from Multan and Jacobabad, she said, warning that the scenario was a cause for alarm.
"The whole election could be declared null and void considering just what has occurred over the last three hours," she claimed.
"Polling agents have to be in the room during the tally for the sake of transparency," she said.
"We expect action to be taken over our complaints by midnight, and for the question mark over the impartiality of these elections to be addressed."
PPP's Maula Bux Chandio also claimed that his party's agents were not allowed inside polling stations in Badin while PSP leader Raza Haroon made the same claim about the treatment meted out to their agents at different polling stations across Karachi.
Polling results from the ECP, which were being released via PTV, stopped coming in at least one hour ago.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and supporters, in the meanwhile, have kicked off early celebrations in different parts of the country as unofficial results show the party in the lead.
ECP denies allegations
In response, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh said that all polling agents had been providing Form-45 to polling agents. The form contains the final vote tally at each polling station.
Yaqoob asked all parties to approach the commission with specific complaints against ROs as well as the polling stations where irregularities are allegedly occurring.
He said that the only information he had received so far is that polling agents whose parties are not performing well are leaving the stations without taking the forms, and then saying they haven't received them.
He said that in case any proof is brought forward, action will be taken against all individuals found involved.
The provincial election commissioner in Punjab categorically denied the allegations levelled by the PML-N.
"Political leaders should refrain from levelling such baseless allegations without having any substantial proof," the ECP official said.
Explaining the process, the election commissioner clarified that only one polling agent of every party is allowed inside the polling station at the time of counting of votes.
Dawn.comUpdated July 25, 2018
Facebook Count2
Twitter Share
0
As preliminary election results started rolling in, political party leaders began crying foul over the process of counting of votes, with the PPP, PML-N and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) alleging that their polling agents had been expelled from certain polling stations as counting went underway.
Marriyum Aurangzeb speaks to media in Lahore after polling ends. ─ DawnNewsTV
PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb and Mussadiq Malik both alleged that the party's polling agents had been forced out of polling stations in various constituencies where counting is underway.
"The counting process is being carried out behind closed doors and changes are being made to Form-45," Aurangzeb alleged while talking to media persons.
Malik alleged that the "security apparatus has taken over the polling stations".
He claimed that election results have been withheld in the following constituencies:
- Dera Ghazi khan, especially for Awais Laghari.
- NA-133 (Pervez Malik) — particularly in UC 234.
- Only 12 Form-45 have been released in Ayaz Sadiq’s constituency having 262 polling stations. All others have been withheld.
- Most of the Islamabad results have been withheld.
- Atif Mazari’s constituency results have been withheld in Rojhan.
- Polling agents have been kicked out of nearly 90 per cent of the polling stations in the constituency of Rana Sanaullah, Faisalabad.
- Khurram Dastagir khan was leading the elections but then results from two-third of the constituencies have been withheld.
Rabbani said: "Throwing out polling agents is a serious issue with serious repercussions. Polling agents are being thrown out in Badin, and results are being withheld in PS-66 Hyderabad."
Rabbani called for the ECP to address the complaints made, and asked for Form-45 to be handed over to winning candidates.
"We said this earlier too, that if the will of the people is manipulated this way, there will be serious consequences," he added.
Sherry Rehman claimed, "There has been a clear trend of interference, in which all parties except one are being pushed to the wall."
She said that all of Malir's NA results had been withheld, adding that the PPP had received more than 250 complaints.
Similar reports have been received from Multan and Jacobabad, she said, warning that the scenario was a cause for alarm.
"The whole election could be declared null and void considering just what has occurred over the last three hours," she claimed.
"Polling agents have to be in the room during the tally for the sake of transparency," she said.
"We expect action to be taken over our complaints by midnight, and for the question mark over the impartiality of these elections to be addressed."
PPP's Maula Bux Chandio also claimed that his party's agents were not allowed inside polling stations in Badin while PSP leader Raza Haroon made the same claim about the treatment meted out to their agents at different polling stations across Karachi.
Polling results from the ECP, which were being released via PTV, stopped coming in at least one hour ago.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and supporters, in the meanwhile, have kicked off early celebrations in different parts of the country as unofficial results show the party in the lead.
ECP denies allegations
In response, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh said that all polling agents had been providing Form-45 to polling agents. The form contains the final vote tally at each polling station.
Yaqoob asked all parties to approach the commission with specific complaints against ROs as well as the polling stations where irregularities are allegedly occurring.
He said that the only information he had received so far is that polling agents whose parties are not performing well are leaving the stations without taking the forms, and then saying they haven't received them.
He said that in case any proof is brought forward, action will be taken against all individuals found involved.
The provincial election commissioner in Punjab categorically denied the allegations levelled by the PML-N.
"Political leaders should refrain from levelling such baseless allegations without having any substantial proof," the ECP official said.
Explaining the process, the election commissioner clarified that only one polling agent of every party is allowed inside the polling station at the time of counting of votes.
