LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan should declare the local government elections in the province null and void, Ejaz Chaudhry, political adviser to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, said at a press conference on Monday.
He said the party’s performance could not be attributed to selection of candidates. He said poor selection might have been responsible for defeat in only a few constituencies. The use of state machinery by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was responsible for the PTI’s poor performance in the elections, he said.
Chaudhry, formerly provincial head of the party, had been made responsible for elections in 19 union councils in NA-127 (Lahore).
He said hundreds of votes had been transferred away from the UCs where the PTI was in a strong position. He said incorrect voters lists were provided to the party’s candidates.
Chaudhry also accused the polling staff of colluding with PML-N candidates. “Some of our polling agents were made to put their signatures under forged result sheets even before the polling time ended,” he said.
Further, he said men claiming to be relatives of female polling staff had been allowed to freely enter polling stations for women.
Chaudhry said he would raise the matter with the party leaders and urge them to reject the results.
He also accused the Police Department of supporting PML-N candidates. “Several SHOs led a harassment campaign against our candidates and their supporters,” he said.
Chaudhry said in Gulbahar Colony, a Christian neighbourhood, Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael and Provincial Assembly Member Shehzad Munshi were seen inside a polling station with police escort.
“I beg the state institutions to let the change happen through the ballot. Otherwise, people will be left with no option but to push it through using force,” he said.
Chaudhry dismissed as false media reports that he had sought re-instatement of party offices annulled following an inquiry into irregularities in an intra-party election.
On Shafqat Mahmood’s decision to step down as PTI’s Lahore organiser, Chaudhry said he would urge the PTI chairman to not accept Mahmood’s resignation. “The party’s performance was not his fault,” he said.
He said all the party leaders had worked together in the campaign. He said PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar was highly respected and was working for the party’s cause.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sarwar said Chaudhry’s demand that the election be declared void was his personal opinion and did not reflect the party’s position. “Like all of us, he must be upset at the moment,” he said.
About the party’s position on election results, Sarwar said he was disappointed by the performance in Lahore. “Our performance in most other districts was satisfactory,” he said. Sarwar said an inquiry would soon be initiated into the elections in Lahore.
On Mahmood’s resignation, he said the matter would be decided by the central leadership.
Fuente: http://tribune.com.pk/story/984084/crying-foul-ejaz-wants-punjab-polls-v...
