ISLAMABAD: Elections could not be held in certain wards of at least 20 union councils (UCs) in Punjab and six in Sindh because of various reasons such as the printing of the incorrect election symbol and candidates’ names, or missing out a candidate’s name altogether from ballot papers.
Briefing reporters on the first phase of local government elections, which were held in selected districts of Punjab and Sindh on Saturday, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad said the ECP would announce new dates for elections in these wards.
In Sindh, polling on account of such mistakes is to take place in Jacobabad, Ghotki and Qamber-Shahdadkot districts. In Punjab, districts where polls could not take place in certain wards include Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Bhakkar, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Vehari and Bahawalnagar.
The secretary said elections in five wards of a union council in Gujrat had been stopped on high court orders.
Quoting Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, he said that polling staff found involved in irregularities would not be spared.
He disclosed that ECP had ordered the arrest of former parliamentary secretary Rai Mujtaba Kharal for slapping a presiding officer in Okara.
He said that media had exposed the buying and selling of votes in Larkana and those involved in this action would be proceeded against. An ECP official said the candidate accused of purchasing votes had been identified as Wazir Lashari. He said that ECP would hold an inquiry into a speech, reportedly made by Sindh minister Manzoor Wassan, after the time for campaigning had ended.
About the killing of 11 people in Khairpur, he said investigations were under way and, according to the Sindh IGP, six bodies were found inside a polling station premises and five from outside.
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2015
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