ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) on Thursday cancelled the results of Dec 10 by-election for the National Assembly’s NA-210 Jacobabad-III seat. “Grave illegalities and violation of the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act 1976 have been committed during the polls in the constituency,” concluded the commission in a meeting on Thursday. On these grounds, the results were declared as void. A new date for polling will be announced later.

The meeting, presided over by acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, earlier considered complaints of rigging and reports from the District and Sessions Judge and Returning Officer of Kashmore district.

In a statement , EC Secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad said that the commission also noticed with great concern an abnormal percentage of votes cast in the by-election —a fact which alone was enough to give rise to a legitimate conclusion that polls were rigged and corrupt practices were adopted on a massive scale.

The meeting was also attended by EC members Justice Nasim Sikandar of the Lahore High Court, Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Muhammad Sadiq Leghari of the Sindh High Court.