ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan on Thursday rejected the objections raised by PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate on the increase of polling stations in the forthcoming by-elections in Tharparkar.

"The application of Raza Rabbani is disposed of as it appears to be an after-thought. Besides, there is no substance in it," a detailed 11-page order of the CEC said. Mr Rabbani was absent during the hearing on Thursday despite service, it said.

The PPP senator had filed the application to raise objections on the allocation of election symbol to the PML, increase/change in polling stations and deletion of voters from the Electoral Rolls of NA-229 Tharparkar-I for the upcoming by-elections.

Citing the reports of the Chief Minister of Sindh, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, on the same matter, the CEC said the reports clearly showed that the increase in the number of polling stations and any changes in their locations were done to facilitate the voters to cast their votes at the nearest polling stations and in accordance with the requirements of the law.

The application is not maintainable and the grievances raised in it are relatable to August 18 by-election in Tharparkar, the order said adding that such grievances could not be appropriately raised through this miscellaneous application at this stage.

Senator Raza Rabbani had sought a meeting with the CEC on telephone on September 20 to express his concern on the change of polling stations in the forthcoming by-election in NA-229 Tharparkar-I. The CEC in return asked Raza Rabbani to submit the complaint in writing by specifying the alleged grievance.

Senator Raza Rabbani faxed his complaint the next day (September 21) and eventually, on September 27 submitted a formal application. Taking cognizance, the CEC called reports from Sindh chief minister and the district returning officer of Tharparkar at Mithi within three days.

Notice was also issued to Raza Rabbani to appear before the CEC in support of his application on September 30, but he never turned up. Earlier the CEC had suo motu directed the district returning officer of the said constituency to hear all the contesting candidates and redress their grievances with regard to the change of polling station in the forthcoming by-election.

In consequence, all the candidates, including Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, the PPP candidate, appeared before the returning officer but made a joint statement in writing on September 22 that they had no objection to the change of polling station No. 160 (from GPS Waharo to GPS Mutu Jo Thar).

About the grievance regarding deletion of 11,000 PPP votes, the order said these allegations were ex facie vague, bald and expressed in general terms. It has been repeatedly observed that no roving inquiry can be conducted to fish out a case on the basis of such vague allegations.

The number of registered voters during the general elections held in 2002 was 250,983 and at present the total number of registered voters in NA-229 Tharparkar-I is 251,579.

There is an increase of 596 voters only over a period of two years. During this period the annual revision of electoral rolls was also undertaken, therefore, the increase seems quite reasonable, it said.

As regards to allocation of symbol to the PML, the order was passed by the Election Commission after providing an opportunity of being heard to all concerned. The order is intra vires of the Political Parties Order, 2002.

The order also quoted the report of the chief minister of Sindh, stating that the elections to this constituency were always won by the Arbab family. The report said the allegations levelled in the letter or questions raised by Raza Rabbani were entirely false, fabricated rather an attempt has been made to mislead the Election Commission of Pakistan and create doubts about the fairness of elections and play with media and masses.