Summary ROs ordered recounting of votes at some of the places and rejected similar requests at others
LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Returning Officers (RO) in the recent local body elections in Punjab proved to be the masters of their own will. Ordering recount of votes at certain constituencies, ROs rejected similar requests at the others, reported Dunya News.
According to details, several winners in Mandi Bahauddin are now worried about the recount of votes since the ROs have allowed the vote recounts in their areas in large numbers. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have also announced to hold protest against Election Commission tomorrow (Monday).
68 candidates from PPP, PTI, Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) and independents won the LB polls in Mandi Bahauddin but the ROs have ordered recounting of votes in many of these constituencies upon the request of the losing candidates, supported by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N).
However, in constituencies where the candidates supported by the ruling candidates have lost, the ROs seem to be paying no heed to the recount requests by PPP, PTI and PML-Q candidates.
Opposition parties claim that the election commission is not ready to order vote recount upon their request but recounting is being ordered in similar situations at the other constituencies where the ruling party candidates have lost the election. They, therefore, announced to hold protest against election commission on Monday.
Also read: Sindh s opposition says LG polls rigged, demands re-election
The opposition s rejection of the results was revealed during a joint press conference held at former Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Arbab Ghulam Raheem ‘s residence. The conference included leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National People’s Party, former Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and former Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) leader Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza. The opposition leaders remarked a neutral election process could not be held up until the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is there.
Addressing the conference, Rahim stated that the opposition refuses to accept the election’s results of Sindh. Rahim further expressed that the current Sindh government had only managed to win the election by brazenly rigging the polls in every district of the province.
Speaking on the occasion, former Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) leader Zulfiqar Mirza said that seven Superintendents of Police (SP) had been designated in Badin on the day of the election for the sensitive polling stations. Mirza stated that these SP’s made every effort to influence the polls, but their attempts were thwarted by the Rangers. Mirza expressed his gratitude to the Rangers, especially Director General (DG) of Rangers.
Mirza has managed to secure 34 seats from Badin. Rahim congratulated Mirza on the win and on the tough time that he would be giving to the PPP. Rahim stated that the ECP had knowledge of the pre-election rigging along with the alteration in the boundaries of the constituencies.
The conference was also addressed by Shafqat Shirazi, Sheheryar Meher and other leaders of the opposition.
