Results of 20 polling stations in NA-75 by-poll suspected to have been falsified: ECP

[MenInG]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said that it suspected results of 20 polling stations had been falsified in the by-election for the NA-75 (Daska) constituency as the PML-N alleged massive rigging.

In a statement, the commission said results of the NA-75 constituency were received with "unnecessary delay", adding that it tried to contact the presiding officers several times but with no success.

NA-75 fell vacant after the demise of PML-N MNA Sahibazada Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah.

Nine candidates are in the race, and of them, the main candidates are PML-N’s Nousheen Iftikhar Shah and PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi. According to unofficial results, the PML-N managed to retain the seat.

"The chief election commissioner tried to contact the Punjab inspector general of police, commissioner and deputy commissioner on receiving information from the district returning officer (DRO) and returning officer (RO) so the whereabouts of the presiding officers concerned could be ascertained but received no response," read the statement.

The chief election commissioner also contacted the Punjab chief secretary who assured him that the results would be sent after tracing the 'missing' officers and polling bags but then he too made himself "unavailable", according to the ECP statement. The presiding officers appeared along with the polling bags around six in the morning, the statement said.

"The DRO and RO of the NA-75 (Sialkot) constituency informed [the ECP] that there is a suspicion of falsification in the results from 20 polling stations. Therefore, it is not possible to release the initial results without a complete inquiry. The DRO is sending a complete report on the matter to the Election Commission."

The statement said the ECP had stopped the DRO and RO from announcing the initial results for the by-election and directed them to conduct a complete inquiry and identify those responsible. It also directed the provincial election commissioner and joint provincial election commissioner to reach the office of the DRO and RO so that "[we] can reach the bottom of the matter and records can be completely protected".

"This matter looks like a weakness of the administration and law enforcement agencies," the ECP added.

'Attempt at PML-N's seat'
Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz shared a video of the party's secretary general Ahsan Iqbal and deputy secretary general Ataullah Tarar, claiming that "preparations are being made to attempt to steal the PML-N's already won seat".

"I am present in Daska and it is around 3:45am. The PML-N candidate (Nousheen Iftikhar Shah) is winning. The returning officer has received results from 370 polling stations and seeing the win of the PML-N, the staff and record of 23 polling stations have been made to disappear," Iqbal said in the video.

"When we asked the returning officer, he said he too was helpless. [The returning officer] has made full efforts but is unable to contact the staff and he does not know where they have disappeared. The results of these polling stations have now become suspicious."

Iqbal called on the ECP to separate the results from the 23 polling stations and to conduct a forensic audit of them. He also asked for re-polling in those stations.

"They are holding the results [of this election] to save their dignity after losing. Whose custody [is the missing staff] in? Who has kidnapped them? The nation and we all want an answer," he said.

Separately, the PML-N vice president stressed that "we will not leave you this time vote choron (vote thieves)".

Contradicting the PML-N's claims and terming it a "drama", Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said Iqbal's video statement was a "clear indication of the PML-N's loss".

He said if re-polling was to be done, then it should also be done for the by-elections in constituencies of Wazirabad and Nowshera (Gujranwala PP-51 and Nowshera PK-63) which the PML-N has won, according to unofficial results.

"We too have objections on these [seats]," Gill said.

Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood claimed that the PML-N levelled allegations of rigging wherever it lost.

"Wherever PMLN wins all is good, wherever it loses, election is rigged. Nowshera, N wins under PTI govt. Wazirabad, N wins, PTI govt. Not a squeak about rigging in both places. Daska, election is tight so shouts of rigging all over," he said in a tweet.

"Those used to fraud cannot take defeat."

The by-election in the NA-75 constituency has been marred by violence. A day earlier, at least two people were killed and three others injured in a firing incident at a polling station in Daska.

One of the victims was reportedly a member of the ruling PTI while the other belonged to the PML-N. A PTI polling agent was also among the injured, according to eyewitnesses and local media.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1608414/r...-by-poll-suspected-to-have-been-falsified-ecp

 

[last_knight]

Few days ago PDM alliance won bye elections in Sindh, Baluchistan and PTI accepted the results.
Now reportedly PTI has won and whole PDM has started chants of rigging.

koi sharm hoti hay koi haya hoti hay.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1608589/they-have-been-exposed-maryam-alleges-govt-failed-in-rigging-na-75-by-polls

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday that the incumbent government had been fully exposed after its alleged "plan of rigging" the NA-75 (Daska) by-polls was unsuccessful.

Maryam was speaking to the media in Jati Umra in Lahore before setting out to visit Daska to show her gratitude to the people for "how they gave respect to the vote [...] and gave patrol [for security of the vote] to the last moment".

"The plan of rigging they made using the administration and the police," she said, had "failed badly" despite its implementation and the use of the "worst state terrorism" to enforce it. "This is a glaring thing that they used every tactic [available] and are now out in the open and stand exposed [...] they should now know their standing in the eyes of the people."

The NA-75 by-polls were marred by violence on Friday, with clashes between voters and police in multiple places, including polling stations and a police station at several times during the day. PML-N leaders and supporters accused authorities of preventing voters from casting their ballots. At least two people were killed and three others injured in a firing incident at a polling station. One of the victims was reportedly a member of the ruling PTI while the other belonged to the PML-N.

In a statement on Saturday, the Election Commission of Pakistan said that it suspected results of 20 polling stations had been falsified in the by-election for the NA-75 constituency as the PML-N alleged massive rigging. The commission said results of the NA-75 constituency were received with "unnecessary delay", adding that it tried to contact the presiding officers several times but with no success.

"They took lives and abducted ECP staff; 20 presiding officers were made missing persons," said Maryam as she blasted the government for the incidents that happened during the by-polls. She questioned why out of the 361 polling stations, the staff of only 20 polling stations had to go missing during the "fog" and why were the results of these polling stations suddenly changed when the officers returned after 12 hours.

"What bigger evidence is there than this?"

She claimed she was also in possession of footage where a presiding officer can be seen acknowledging that unidentified men had arrived in a car and tried to pressure him to return with them with the ballot box instead of in the official ECP vehicle, which he had refused. "These evidences are coming out and they [government] has now fully come out into the open."

Maryam had raised concerns over the alleged rigging and incidents of violence in a press conference on Saturday where she said the ECP's statement on the by-polls was a "charge sheet" against the government.

"There was firing, polling was slowed, people were killed and bags of votes were stolen. The ECP was looking for you, where was the Punjab government?"

She questioned "where was the chief minister, the chief secretary, the police, the inspector general and the administration" during the violence that broke out and why they were missing in action. She had called for cases to be registered against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Prime Minister Imran Khan for allegedly "trying to steal votes and martyring two individuals".

She had claimed that ECP officials were made to "vanish". "No one knows where these officials went for 14 hours or where they were kept.

"Does someone's phone stop working during foggy weather? That as a group [they] suddenly all vanish [...] the election commission was helpless trying to find them and no one is listening to it."

Addressing the ECP during the press conference, Maryam had said that the "whole nation was watching". She urged the commission to reclaim its "lost respect and status" by taking action against the voting irregularities that had happened.

"Despite being on one page and having support of all [the] institutions and controlling everything, the people of Pakistan have rejected him [Prime Minister Imran Khan] from everywhere."

Maryam said the PTI lacked the ability to "take votes" and failed in issues regarding the people. However, she said, they are at the forefront when it comes to "hooliganism and rowdiness".

"Two lives were lost just for one seat because their disrespect was happening and they wanted to take this seat," said Maryam, adding that despite the alleged attempted rigging, the government gained nothing and "lost from Nowshera and Wazirabad" — referring to by-polls for Gujranwala PP-51 and Nowshera PK-63 which the PML-N has won, according to unofficial results.

"If I had known they would take two lives just for one seat, then the PML-N would have given them the Daska seat anyway," she said, while lamenting the two deaths.

Maryam further alleged that MNAs and MPAs of the PTI were in the process of deserting it to "secure their political future". She said the nation was angry with the government and the MNAs and MPAs are the first to know about this anger since they "know very well about the public pulse and public sentiment" due to politicking on the ground. They had realised, she said, that the nation had taken a decision against Prime Minister Imran Khan and he would not be able to return to power.

"I understand very soon they will be scattered [...] there is no PTI and it has no future."

Addressing the gathering in Daska, Maryam paid tribute to the PML-N worker, identified as 21-year-old Zeeshan, who had lost his life during violence in the by-polls.

"Zeeshan, a son of Daska, a lion of PML-N, a soldier of [Mian] Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, he alone fought the case for the sanctity of the vote for all of Pakistan and paid the [ultimate] tribute of his life," said Maryam, adding that she also extended her sympathies to the family of the PTI worker who also lost his life due to the violence.

"I want to tell them in the harshest words of the great injustice they have done but my father's upbringing stops me, but they will have to give account of this injustice in [both] this world and the next."

She expressed her gratitude to the people of Daska and said they had shown not only to the whole of Pakistan but also the entire world, that "no attempt of any vote chor (thief) is successful when the nation is awake, gives [its] vote and patrols the [security of the] vote."

She also questioned the explanation given that "fog" had created the various irregularities, including the absence of presiding officers from 20 polling stations. She said even if the explanation of the fog was accepted, then what kind of fog shuts down mobile phone signals and breaks down communication.

She expressed her doubts on how voter turnout in the 20 polling stations rose to 90 per cent after the missing officers returned, when the average turnout was 35pc in the rest of the polling stations.

"Who are the genies who are seen among the fog and come and give 90pc votes, this can't be the work of humans.

"On one hand, you say that there was a lot of fog but then where did this 90pc population come from? So it cant be the work of the people, but it surely can be the work of genies and spirits seen in the fog."

She reiterated her request to the ECP to take action and unveil the persons complicit in the irregularities, register cases against them and arrest them. "This Constitution and the law have made the ECP the custodian of the people's choice, the protector of the nation's vote and its sanctity," she added.

Maryam also called for a reelection in the constituency of Daska and said it wouldn't be accepted unless and until the PML-N was satisfied that vote theft would be stopped and not allowed to continue.

 

[last_knight]

Usual suspects.

NA-75 is my constituency.

For 2018 GE, PTI initially gave ticket to Usman Khalid and then changed in favour of Asjad Malhi.
An angry Usman Khalid contested 2018 GE as an independent candidate and got 55000 votes. PTI ticket holder got 60000.

PMLn candidate won by securing 110000 votes.

Now for Bye Election, Usman Khalid was all the way supporting the PTI Candidate. No way PMLn could have won here.

Maryam Nawaz is going through what is called Bambi Syndrome )

 

[Bewal Express]

After Noora rona and dona, IK has offered to rerun the elections in the 20 polling stations the Nooras were crying about. What are they going to cry about now?

 

[MenInG]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday directed the PTI to submit its response in the suspected tampering of the NA-75 Daska by-election results by tomorrow.

The hearing, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, was adjourned till Thursday.

The PTI's legal counsel had asked for more time to submit the record and had asked for a week to submit "verified results and proof". However, the CEC turned down the request, stating that the "weather was no longer bad", in an apparent reference to the claims of the presiding officers regarding fog on the night of the by-election.

He also remarked that the ECP will reach a conclusion regarding the NA-75 by-poll. "If the election was [fair], the results will be released. If it is not, then re-polling can be done," he said.


During today's hearing, the PML-N candidate's lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, stated that an environment of "terror" was created in the constituency on polling day. "Shots were being fired in broad day light," he said.

He contended that 20 presiding officers suddenly vanished and "miraculously" reappeared the next day. "Re-polling should not only be done at those particular polling stations. We need to cast an eye on the election in the whole constituency," he said, adding that this was a pre-planned "operation".

A video of shot fired outside a polling station in Daska was also presented to the ECP. "PTI workers can be seen firing shots in the presence of the party's candidate, Ali Asjad Malhi," the PML-N lawyer said.

The returning office also submitted his report to the ECP. He said that the results from 337 polling stations were added to the RMS by 3:30am. "There was a delay [in the results] for 20 polling stations," he said, adding that 19 presiding officers could not be contacted.

"The presiding officers were accompanied by police officials. Did you try contacting them through the wireless?" asked the chief election commissioner. The returning officer replied that he had instructed the Daska DSP to do so but they were still unable to contact the presiding officers.

He added that out of the 20 polling stations, the results of ten were received between 4:30am and 6:30am. "There is no difference in the results of the four of these polling stations; the results of the presiding officer and the polling agents are the same," he said.

He added that some of the presiding officers said that they were unreachable due to car troubles or fog.

The CEC noted that the RO seemed "distressed" when he contacted the commission on the night of the by-poll. "You had said that the police and the administration were not cooperating," he said.

The RO replied that the administration did cooperate but a large crowd of people, comprising PML-N and PTI supporters, had gathered outside the office.

'ECP to take final decision'
Meanwhile, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that the ECP will take the final decision regarding the NA-75 by-poll, Radio Pakistan reported.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said the PML-N disturbed law and order in the recent by-elections. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has made an important announcement regarding the PML-N's application for re-polling in 23 polling stations. He added that the prime minister has always accepted challenges.

The minister said the government wants to introduce electronic voting in the next general elections, adding that the politics of the PML-N and the PPP is based on lies.

Have always struggled from free, fair elections: PM Imran
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had requested the PTI candidate to ask for re-polling at the 20 polling stations.

"Have always struggled for fair and free elections. So even though there is no legal compulsion to do so before ECP announces results, I would request our PTI candidate to ask for re-polling in the 20 polling stations Opposition is crying hoarse over in the Daska NA 75 be-election," he said.

"It is because we want transparency that we are seeking open ballot for Senate elections. We will always seek to strengthen a fair and free election process. Unfortunately others lack this commitment. When we wanted 4 constituencies opened after the 2013 elections, it took us over two years," he added.

The by-election in the NA-75 constituency was marred by violence after two people were killed and three others injured in a firing incident at a polling station in Daska.

In a statement last week, the ECP had said that it suspected results of 20 polling stations had been falsified in the by-election for the NA-75 constituency. The commission had said results of the NA-75 constituency were received with "unnecessary delay", adding that it tried to contact the presiding officers several times but with no success.

While the PML-N had alleged massive rigging, the PTI had claimed to win the election and had lashed out at the opposition party for only accepting results in their favour.

 

[the Great Khan]

After Noora rona and dona, IK has offered to rerun the elections in the 20 polling stations the Nooras were crying about. What are they going to cry about now?

this is a prelude to the next national election where they will cry and cry like 10 years olds..it reminds of this one time back in school in karachi where they were selecting our top three for sports day. So the teacher decided to ask all the boys to race. The top three would be in the sports day.

So I won the first race. Then my other "challengers" who thought they were faster but ended up losing, starting crying and moaning. So the teacher succumbed and asked us to race again. I won again. They started crying even more. So she asked us to race again. I won again but I was knackered by now. they started crying again!! She ran the race a fourth time and I ended up fourth..

she gave the top three positions to the whiners. but I complained and they made space for me in the sports day (i ended fourth in some stupid obstacle race on sports day)...

This mentality is ingrained from bottom up..Rona dhona then moaning until you get what you want..

 

[MenInG]

PTI has decided to appeal the Election Commission of Pakistan's order for fresh elections in the NA-75 Sialkot-IV constituency.

The ECP, in a detailed order issued today, had announced re-polling in the entire constituency on March 18 after concluding that “the election in the subject constituency has not been conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in a transparent manner”.

In a tweet following the verdict by the Commission, Chief Minister Punjab's aide on information Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the party has certain reservations about the Election Commission's decision regarding the Daska by-polls.

PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi will "exercise his legal right" and file the appeal against ECP's decision, she said.

"We will approach the Supreme Court and appeal the decision. The people of Daska decided in PTI's favour. It is incomprehensible that a victorious candidate be prevented from representing his constituency," Awan said.

The PML-N had requested the Election Commission to hold polling again in the Daska constituency as the February 19 election was marred by controversies and clashes.

The ECP withheld the results after 20 presiding officers in the constituency went missing for several hours and top officials of the district administration were unavailable to the commission to answer its queries.

'Conducive environment was not available'

In the short order released today declaring the election void, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said after the arguments heard and record perused, the ECP has come to the conclusion that “the election in the subject constituency has not been conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in a transparent manner”.

“From the perusal of available record produced by the parties, the Returning Officer, as well as collected by the Commission through different sources, we have come to the conclusion that a conducive environment was not available for the candidates and voters of the constituency and the election in the subject constituency has not been conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in a transparent manner," it read.

Read more: Returning officer submits details of irregularities to ECP

"Incidents of murders, firing and injuries, bad law and order situation in the subject constituency [created] harassment for voters and other circumstances leading to make the process of results doubtful/unascertainable,” the ECP order noted.

The order added: “This commission in the exercise of powers under Article 218(3) of the Constitution read with section 9(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, declares the poll held on 19.02.21 in the subject constituency (NA-78, Sialkot-IV) as void and orders fresh poll/re-poll in the entire constituency on 18th March 2021.”

 

[natkhat-shahzada]

this is a prelude to the next national election where they will cry and cry like 10 years olds..it reminds of this one time back in school in karachi where they were selecting our top three for sports day. So the teacher decided to ask all the boys to race. The top three would be in the sports day.

So I won the first race. Then my other "challengers" who thought they were faster but ended up losing, starting crying and moaning. So the teacher succumbed and asked us to race again. I won again. They started crying even more. So she asked us to race again. I won again but I was knackered by now. they started crying again!! She ran the race a fourth time and I ended up fourth..

she gave the top three positions to the whiners. but I complained and they made space for me in the sports day (i ended fourth in some stupid obstacle race on sports day)...

This mentality is ingrained from bottom up..Rona dhona then moaning until you get what you want..

You didn't need to write such a lengthy post. You should have just given reference to post 2013 Elections dharna and we would have understood your point.

 

[Bewal Express]

The Nooras asked for re-polling on 20 stations thinking IK would be scared, he said he was happy to that so they panicked and asked the ECP for re-election on the whole constituency. Apparently there was firing on the day of the election but the Nooras had no problem with that at the time. Do we have to re-run the elections until Maryam gets a win.

 

[Mamoon]

It is interesting that only PTI legislators are up for sale and that is why they need Supreme Court’s help in redefining secret ballots as traceable ballots.

Videos are emerging where PTI is paying its own party members to stay put in KP. Moreover, Imran himself sold a senate seat in Sindh for 35 crores.

The less said about Balochistan the better, and in Punjab, voter bags and election officials “disappeared” due to fog.

As I have said many times, PTI is the biggest scam this country has ever seen.

 

[Mamoon]

You didn't need to write such a lengthy post. You should have just given reference to post 2013 Elections dharna and we would have understood your point.

Only PTI is allowed to do rona dhona. When others do it, it is a problem.

 

[the Great Khan]

You didn't need to write such a lengthy post. You should have just given reference to post 2013 Elections dharna and we would have understood your point.

Ah look its another one who's crawled out of the woodwork. He asked for 4 halkay. Your great leader didnt have the guts to open then because he knew he had rigged it. We all know what goes on in Punjab. I have relatives who can verify this and other family aquaintances who can also verify other skull diggery. Everyone in Punjab knows what the PMLN are about.

I hope the PTI ensure this party is completely eliminated from Pakistan. And then the PPP will be next!!

 

[Bewal Express]

Only PTI is allowed to do rona dhona. When others do it, it is a problem.

The Nooras asked for 20 polling stations, Kaptaan said fine, they then panicked and asked for the whole constituency to be rerun. Lets be honest, those polling officers werent scared of the PTI, they were running from Noora thugs like Rana the Qatil. The Nooras have never won a single election without rigging. Thats not just my opinion AZ and the PPP have also claimed the same.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1611761/ecp-reschedules-daska-re-election-to-april-10-on-punjab-govts-request

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday changed the date of the re-election in NA-75 (Daska) constituency from March 18 to April 10 after the Punjab government sought time to fill the vacant positions of administrative officers in the region where the polls will be held.

The ECP had last month voided the by-election held in NA-75 on February 19 — which was marred by deadly clashes between workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and PML-N, the mysterious disappearance of around 20 presiding officers and suspected tampering with results — and ordered re-polling in the entire constituency on March 18.

The commission had also ordered the transfer of the Gujranwala Division commissioner and suspension of the Sialkot deputy commissioner as well as other senior administrative and police officers.

A statement issued by the ECP on Wednesday said it had changed the date of polling to "make the holding of elections transparent and make administrative affairs fool-proof".

It said the Government of Punjab had drawn the commission's attention to the fact that the officers newly appointed after the suspension and transfers of all district and divisional officers "require some time to understand and fully control the administrative situation".

"After deliberation, the ECP issued the directions that the Punjab government immediately appoint administrative officers on vacant positions on a permanent basis and decided that polling in NA-75 (Daska) Sialkot will now be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021," the press release added.

A day after the Feb 19 by-poll, the ECP had said it suspected the results of 20 polling stations had been falsified as the PML-N alleged massive rigging. The commission said results from the said polling stations were received with "unnecessary delay", adding that it tried to contact the presiding officers several times but with no success.

The ECP had stopped the district returning officer (DRO) and returning officer (RO) from announcing the initial results for the by-election and directed them to conduct a complete inquiry and identify those responsible for the mismanagement.

On Feb 25, a five-member bench, headed by the chief election commissioner, ordered that fresh elections be held in Daska on March 18. The decision was announ*ced on a petition filed by PML-N candidate in the constituency Nousheen Iftikhar.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1614533/sc-orders-deferral-of-daska-re-polling-scheduled-for-april-10-says-more-time-needed-to-decide-case

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the deferral of re-polling in the NA-75 (Daska) constituency, scheduled to be held on April 10, saying that the court needed more time to decide the case.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial, who is heading a three-member bench hearing the petition filed by PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, said that the court was "postponing the April 10 re-polls for now" so the arguments of all the respondents could be heard.

He observed that Advocate Salman Akram Raja, counsel for PML-N candidate Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, had raised important points during the hearing.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had last month voided the by-election held in NA-75 on February 19 — which was marred by deadly clashes between workers of the ruling PTI and PML-N, the mysterious disappearance of around 20 presiding officers and suspected tampering of results — and ordered re-polling in the entire constituency.

The decision was challenged by Malhi, who argued in his petition that there was "no legal justification" for the ECP to declare the polls null and void, adding that the ECP's order was "clearly contrary to law and facts of the case".

During the hearing today, Advocate Raja informed the court that there were 76 polling stations in Daska. Complaints had been received from 34 of those stations while 20 presiding officers also "disappeared", he added.

Justice Bandial recalled that the court was previously told that the voting process had remained suspended at 10 polling stations for a long time on Feb 19. "The question is who created these problems on the day of polling and why. Was one candidate strong so the other one had these actions taken?" he asked.

Advocate Raja replied that PML-N candidate Iftikhar's father had been elected in the constituency five times and her family is influential in the area. "Nosheen Iftikhar got 46,000 votes while the PTI candidate got 11,000 votes. [The perpetrators'] purpose was to affect the polling process," he said.

"You started the unrest according to reports," Justice Bandial told the PML-N lawyer in response.

He added that the PML-N seemed to be happy with the election results since it had not raised any objections to which Raja replied that the party had filed a petition with the ECP in connection with the NA-75 by-polls.

Justice Bandial said the PML-N candidate's counsel would have to prove to the court why re-polling in the entire constituency was necessary on complaints regarding 23 polling stations.

He also questioned Raja whether the presiding officers had left the polling stations as per procedure, to which the counsel replied that they had left along with police officials. However, their return was "unusual as they came back together and were afraid", Raja added.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar questioned the process through which the ECP had taken the decision of holding re-elections in the entire constituency.

Raja replied that the ECP had taken the decision after "complete action according to its code of conduct".

"The Election Commission gave everyone the opportunity. No one raised any objections to re-polling in the entire constituency. The effect of what happened in Daska on the day of polling is important," he further said.

The bench observed that Raja's arguments had not yet finished while the other respondents also had to be heard.

"While the ECP decision still stands, the April 10 [re-polling] is being postponed for now," Justice Bandial said.

The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.

 

[Bewal Express]

Nooras asked for 23 polling stations to be looked at and the ECP said no, we are repolling all of them. Yesterday the Nooras got so desperate their lawyer appeared in court even with Covid.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD:The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) appeal against the earlier directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan for re-polling in the constituency of NA-75 Sialkot-IV (Daska) and maintained the polling body's decision.

The ECP had earlier declared the by-poll held on February 19 in the constituency void and ordered a fresh election on March 18 which was last rescheduled to take place on April 10.

A three-member apex bench presided by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, dismissed PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi's petition and announced the short order after hearing arguments by all sides. Details of the order would be issued later.

Speaking to the media, the PTI’s Malhi said the party will deliberate upon filing a review petition after the detailed judgement is released by the court. He expressed confidence about beating the PML-N and added that he respected the court’s decision in the matter.

During today's proceedings, Justice Ata Bandial urged the counsel to state the legal points that were necessary and rely only on the documents on which the commission had made its decision.

Lawyer Mian Abdul Rauf prayed that there was no mention of organised fraud in the ECP decision and the decision of the commission was a violation of the law.

The judge remarked that the electoral body made the decision without listening to the administration.

"It is a fact that the situation in the constituency was bad. It is not right to say that all parties did not get a competitive environment for the election competition. The word 'competitive environment' is not used for voters," the judge remarked.

PTI lawyer Shehzad Shaukat asked during the proceedings regarding the disappearance of the presiding officers. "Those responsible for the disappearance should come forward, it is necessary to probe the officers. Which was not done," he further prayed

Justice Muneeb Akhtar also asked why the election material arrived late in the constituency.

Read more: SC dismisses petition seeking suspension of ECP’s decision to hold re-polls in NA-75

The DG Law of ECP said Rangers were also present at the polling stations where the presiding officers went 'missing'.

Justice Bandial remarked that two people were also killed and one was injured in a firing incident in the constituency.. "The Election Commission failed to take appropriate action in Daska," he added.

"Whoever is responsible for the disappearances of the presiding officers has caused disruption in the electoral process. If the results are affected, re-polling may take place. Ten polling stations are also shown in one building. These details are mentioned in the Election Commission's own documents."

ECP's earlier order

The electoral body had earlier declared the by-poll held on February 19 in the constituency as void and ordered a fresh election on March 18.

The ECP issued a short order, signed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and four commission members, Justice (retd) Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi, Justice (retd) Mrs Irshad Qaisar, Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhamad Jatoi.

"This Commission in exercise of powers under Article 218(3) the Constitution read with section 9(1) of the Elections Act. 2017, declares the poll held on 19.02.2021 in the subject constituency (NA-75, Sialkot-IV) as void and orders fresh poll/re-poll in the entire constituency on 18th March," it said.

The order was issued after hearing of a case filed by Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate in the by-election for verification of 23 missing polling stations' results. Ali Asjad Malhi was the candidate of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The ECP said the election in the constituency had not been conducted in a transparent manner, incidents of murders, firing and injuries, bad law and order situation and other circumstances led to the whole process being doubtful.


https://tribune.com.pk/story/2292873/sc-maintains-ecps-order-to-hold-re-polls-in-na-75-daska

 

[Bewal Express]

Interesting that Nooras wanted only 20 pulling stations opened and then they realised they will still lose, the ECP which is basically their B team opened the whole constituency. The social media intimidation tactics of the Nooras towards the SC judges have worked, and if that is all it takes, then the PTI have a much bigger social media presence. Rubbish decision by the SC going against all its own evidence.

 

[MenInG]

Polling is currently under way in the NA-75 Daska constituency with expectations of a close fight between the ruling PTI and the PML-N.

According to Radio Pakistan, polling — which started at 8am — will continue till 5pm without any break.

The PML-N has awarded the ticket to Nosheen Iftikhar while Ali Asjad Malhi is the candidate for the PTI. A candidate of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Khalil Sandhu, is also in the run.

Rangers are on patrol duty, ensuring the transportation of election staff and material, while army troops have been stationed in Daska Stadium and will be available on call.

To make the conduct of the re-poll transparent, CCTV cameras have been installed at 47 sensitive polling stations, out of a total 360.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided that the presiding officers will sign the Form 45 (final results) inside the polling stations in the presence of polling agents of the respective candidates before they leave the premises, while no political figure will be allowed to meet the RO while receiving the election results.

The NA-75 seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MNA Syed Iftikharul Hassan alias Zahry Shah in August 2020. The by-poll was delayed for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ECP had withheld the results of the Feb 19 by-poll in Daska due to violence, rigging and the disappearance of over 20 presiding officers and ordered a re-election in the entire constituency. The order was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

'Daska has been given another chance'
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that all eyes will be on Daska as the people of the constituency will be representing the sentiments of the country's 220 million-strong population.

"The people of Daska have been given another chance to exact revenge from the vote stealing government, which has snatched bread from the people's mouth while also taking away development from Pakistan," she said.

The government's fears will prove to be true, she said, adding that the people of the constituency will cast their vote in order to avenge the deaths of those killed on Feb 19.

She stated that voters will demonstrate their lack of confidence in the current government by casting their vote, adding that incompetent governance had endangered the country's security.

"Daska will expose those who made false promises and have taken the country thirty years back in the span of three," she said.

She said that the people of Daska will not only guard the sanctity of the vote but will also protect polling staff.

PML-N submits application to CEC
Nosheen Iftikhar, the PML-N candidate, submitted an application to the chief election commissioner on Friday, alleging that certain presiding officers had been tasked by her opponents with casting additional/bogus votes in about 100 polling stations.

She requested for foolproof arrangements to ensure that no bogus votes were cast and that a mechanism be put in place to tally counterfoils with the number of votes cast and to check whether the counterfoils contain authentic and verified particulars of voters.

She also sought deputation of polling officers at each polling station by the ECP to keep a check on presiding officers.

The returning officer responded that the candidate should specify the names of the presiding officers along with their polling station numbers, and tangible evidence as no [preventive] action may be taken on mere speculations and apprehensions.

In another application, she invited the attention of election authorities that CCTV are not being installed on all main roads in Daska and feared that the lack of monitoring equipment may encourage violence.

The returning officer told the candidate that surveillance cameras had been installed in accordance with the SOPs (standard operating procedures) at all the polling stations declared highly sensitive by the district returning officer to record poll proceedings, vote counting process and preparation of results by the presiding officers.

 

[MenInG]

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was dealt a major blow after opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) emerged victorious in the much-hyped NA-75 Daska by-election with a huge margin of over 19,000 votes on Saturday.

As per the unconfirmed and unofficial results of all 360 polling stations, PML-N candidate Nosheen Iftikhar bagged 111,220 votes against PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi, who managed to secure 92,019 votes.

Polling began at 8am and continued uninterrupted till 5pm in the constituency. After 5pm, only those voters who were inside the polling stations were allowed to cast their votes.

By-elections are usually considered a cakewalk for the sitting government, but the results in NA-75 are humiliating for the ruling party as, according to the unofficial results, its candidate was defeated with a margin of 19,201 votes. Even the announcement of a development package of Rs500 million for the constituency couldn’t change voters’ mood and save it from being pummeled.

Daska by-polls gained significant right from the attempt to gerrymandering the election results to the vanishing of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) staff and from legal fight to re-polling under strict supervision.

The Saturday contest may not be significant in terms of changing the number game in the National Assembly, but it surely was a major test for the commission whose writ was challenged during the previous round which was marred by law and order situation and controversies.

The results have cleared the fog, which played a major role during the vote count on February 19 when two people were killed and several others were injured in clashes, which the PTI and the PML-N had blamed on each other.

Political experts said that the government has maintained the Chor, Daku, corruption and NRO – a deal – narrative but it is not selling anymore as the opposition parties were able to mold the public opinion amid rising political temperature.

Soon after the announcement, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter to celebrate the election victory, saying the people of Daska have won the war of “restoring the sanctity of vote”.

“Well done Daska! congratulations to the zealous and brave people of Daska! Well done! You have won the "respect the vote" battle once again today,” she wrote in Urdu on her official handle.

She said the victory exposed the rigging tactics of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

In a series of tweets, Maryam said no one can save the incumbent government from people “who are suffering from poverty, inflation and unemployment”. “Fear your fate!,” she warned the incumbent rulers.

The PML-N stalwart said whenever the free and fair elections are held her party will always secure victory and added that her father and party supremo Nawaz Sharif “is the name of an ideology which has taken roots in the hearts of the people”.

“The days of this fake government are numbered and the day is not far when the people will rule in this country, not the fake ones,” she added.

Senior PML-N leader and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said in a tweet that people have announced the verdict through their vote today that “PML-N is their real representative”.

“It is now imperative to get rid of unemployment, inflation and economic destruction. Well done Noshin Bibi.”

On the other hand, even before the unofficial results were announced, the PTI leadership was seen downplaying the contest, expressing that it would accept the results whatever they may be. Some had asked people to watch the cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa while many others preferred to remain silent.

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Fridous Ashiq Awan said that in line with ECP’s directions, the provincial government took all-out steps to ensure free and fair elections. However, she said in a press conference, many irregularities were witnessed during the polling. “Goons of PML-N tried to sabotage the law and order in the area,” she alleged.

The spokesperson said the ruling PTI did not contest election against a political worker but “land grabbers and drug peddlers”. “PML-N believes in rigging and they don’t have nerves to accept their defeat.”

According to ECP, a total of 494,003 voters, including 273,006 male and 220,997 female voters were registered for the election. Out of the total 360, 106 polling stations were set up for men, 106 for women and 148 joint polling stations.

Keeping the previous polling day in view, ECP made all necessary administrative and electoral preparations for holding peaceful, free, and transparent elections. So much so, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan had earlier left for Lahore to monitor the by-election from the Provincial Election Commission Office.

Out of the 360 polling stations that were set up in the constituency, total 47 were declared highly sensitive. To keep the law and order situation under control, more than 4,000 policemen were deployed at the polling stations while Rangers were on standby to deal with any untoward incidents.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of PML-N MNA Syed Iftikharul Hassan in August 2020. Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay for six months. Later on February 19, the ECP had withheld the results due to violence, rigging and the disappearance of presiding officers and ordered a re-election in the entire constituency. The order was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Show-cause notice

During the day, the ECP issued a show-cause notice to PML-N MPA Zeeshan Rafique for violating the election code of conduct.

The district election commissioner has also sought an explanation from the MPA within a day.

On the other hand, the district monitoring officer of NA-75 Daska issued show-cause notices to PML-Q leader Chaudhry Saleem Bariar and special assistant to Punjab CM Firdous Ashiq Awan for violating the code of conduct.

PML-Q leader Bariar on April 9 announced a development package of Rs500 million for the constituency and Awan had announced the package for the constituency during a press conference.

"The announcement of development packages for the constituency is a violation of the code of conduct," the election commission said. The district monitoring officer sought a reply from both within two days.

The constituency’s returning officer has also replied to the PML-N candidate, who a day earlier had submitted an application to the chief election commissioner, alleging that certain presiding officers had been tasked by her opponents with casting bogus votes in around 100 polling stations.

The RO said that special instructions have been issued to the presiding officers to be fair and responsible in discharging their duties and that the election commission’s monitoring teams are closely monitoring all election factors.

Security arrangements

Moreover, in order to ensure fair re-election in NA-75, the provincial election commission had assigned Pakistan Rangers the task of safe transportation of presiding officers and the polling material to the polling stations and then to the office of the returning officer.

To make the conduct of the re-poll transparent, closed-circuit TV cameras were installed at 47 highly-sensitive polling stations, out of a total of 360.

Such strict measures come in the wake of Feb 19 Daska by-polls where different incidents of alleged vote tampering, rigging and clashes were reported. The ruling party and the opposition were at odds as the former was claiming victory whereas the latter alleged massive rigging in the constituency.

Despite many differences, the Pakistan Peoples Party assured the PML-N of its support for Iftikhar, as part of its joint efforts to upset the government.

“The PPP will live up to its promise of supporting the candidate in the by-polls, just as it backed them in February. Despite differences in the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement), we will stand by our promise,” PPP Central Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira was quoted as saying in a statement.

According to the political background of the NA-75, the families of PTI and PML-N candidates have been elected for the last two decades. But the PML-N candidate has a strong presence in this regard.

Syed Murtaza Amin, the husband of Nosheen Iftikhar, has been elected to the NA from here four times. It is pertinent to mention that he could not participate in the elections because of his degree. In the last three general elections, this seat has been held by the PML-N.

(With input from News Desk)

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2293971/pml-n-clinches-much-hyped-daska-by-poll-with-huge-margin

 

[Kingpin786]

19000 in a by-election is a very good margin

 

[Mamoon]

Utter humiliation for PTI.

The cult is saying that getting thrashed in Daska is not a big deal because it is a PMLN seat, which basically means the failure of relentless propaganda against them since 2013.

 

[Savak]

Lol if ik felt humiliated after every defeat, he wouldn't be the PM of Pakistan today battling against powerful mafias against whom everyone surrenders. He will introspect, adapt and be prepared for the next battle.

 

[Mamoon]

Lol if ik felt humiliated after every defeat, he wouldn't be the PM of Pakistan today battling against powerful mafias against whom everyone surrenders. He will introspect, adapt and be prepared for the next battle.

He is in bed with all these “mafias” and they financed his election campaign. This whole narrative is a scam and Imran is the biggest conman this country has ever seen.

He has taken the gullible nation for a ride.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1656336/daska-by-poll-report-saad-rafique-dubs-pti-govt-champions-of-rigging

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique dubbed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government "champions of rigging" on Saturday, hitting out at the ruling party over the findings of an inquiry report released a day ago by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on irregularities in the Daska by-poll.

Addressing a press conference alongside former speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, and other PML-N leaders in Lahore, Rafique questioned: "After the Daska report, is any other proof needed that this government stole the votes [it] needed?"

The by-poll, conducted in the NA-75 constituency, had turned controversial following incidents of violence, reports of rigging and the disappearance of 20 presiding officers (POs). Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had withheld the results of the by-poll and ordered re-election in the entire constituency on suspicion that the results may have been falsified. A by-poll was again held in the constituency in April this year, with PML-N’s Syeda Nosheen Ifti*khar winning the contest by securing 110,075 votes.

A report on irregularities during the February by-poll was released yesterday (Friday), wherein it was concluded that election officials, police and the local administration failed to play their "designated role in the requisite manner and were found [to be] puppets in the hands of their unlawful masters".

The report further stated that PTI leader and former special assistant to the Punjab chief minister Firdous Ashiq Awan had participated in meetings held at the Daska assistant commissioner's house for "manipulating the election process."

The inquiry revealed that the by-poll fiasco was a result of negligence and maladministration on part of relevant officials and a "pre-planned scam".

Referring to the report, Rafique said today that the PTI had made "false and hollow claims" about transparency and free and fair elections in the past and accused others of rigging elections.

"But, is there anything left for them to say after the [release of] the Daska report?" he questioned rhetorically.

Commenting on the contentious electoral reforms proposed by the incumbent government, Rafique alleged that similar to the PTI having the helping hand of the Results Transmission System (RTS) in the 2018 general election, they were planning to have electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next polls.

He accused the PTI government of "planning a daylight robbery" of the 2023 elections, but warned that "the people of Pakistan and [the rest of the] political parties will not let them succeed."

Sadiq, meanwhile, said the government would be committing "constitutional violations" by implementing its proposed election reforms unilaterally.

On the use of EVMs, he said the people of Pakistan would not tolerate the government bulldozing the reforms for the use of the machines through the joint session of parliament, as they did in the NA.

He said his party, too, wanted to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis — which is one of the proposals made in the reforms — but that the government was unwilling to discuss the matter with the opposition and wanted to introduce a mechanism to have complete control.

The PML-N leaders also lambasted the government over spiraling inflation in the country. "Prices are soaring in the country, but the government remains unmoved," commented Rafique.

He said the PML-N had devised a roadmap and the party would take to the streets to demand from the government to reduce prices and control inflation. "It is their job to reduce prices, but they are not doing it."

The former railways minister went on to say the government needed to realise that the "system has failed and to prevent further disorder, the government needs to step down and hold new elections."

Sadiq read out a list of commodities, comparing their prices in 2018 with their current rates.

Criticising the government for the rise in prices, he said the growing inflation made people believe that the "rulers are thieves".

"The loans they have taken surpasses the amount previous governments borrowed over the past 10 years," he said.

He questioned the contrasting nature of the government's recent moves. "On one hand, the government announces a relief package, and on the other hand, it raises petrol prices."

"I have not seen a more inefficient government in this country in my life," he remarked.

Sadiq said it was "obvious" that Prime Minister Imran Khan was working in line with International Monetary Fund's policies.

"And it became even more apparent when [Prime Minister] Imran Khan said the increase in the value of the dollar benefitted Pakistanis," he added. "What was the logic behind this statement?"

The PML-N leader also berated the government over the National Accountability Ordinance.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2339124/ecp-suspends-membership-of-150-lawmakers

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended the membership of as many as 150 lawmakers over failure to submit the statement of their assets and liabilities that is required by the top electoral body at the year-end.

The list included three senators, 36 members of the National Assembly, 69 members of the Punjab Assembly, 14 members of the Sindh Assembly, 21 members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and seven members of the Balochistan Assembly.

According to ECP, the suspended members include three senators from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) including Musaddiq Malik, federal ministers including Fawad Chaudhry, Noorul Haq Qadri, Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mahmood, Fehmida Mirza and ministers of state including Farrukh Habib and Shabbir Ali Qureshi.

The ECP has also suspended the membership of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr Amir Liquat Hussain, Firdous Shamim, Ali Gohar Khan, Sadaqat Abbassi, Raja Fayyaz, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Yar Mohammad Rind, Mir Sikandar Ali, Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Samiullah Chaudhry, Salman Naeem and Sabtain Khan Niazi.

The ECP said that lawmakers cannot participate in parliamentary proceedings and their membership will remain suspended until they submit their respective statements.

Almost every year, the commission suspends the membership of scores of lawmakers for not submitting the statement. Last year, the membership of 154 members was suspended by the ECP.