LAHORE: In a letter to the Election Commission, Pakistan People’s Party candidates from Punjab have claimed the ruling PML-N candidates are “harassing” the MPAs in order to procure votes in their favour in Senate election.

Nadeem Afzal Gondal, Malik Nosher Khan Anjum Langrial and Sarwat Malik, PPP’s candidates on general, technocrat and women seats, respectively, on Monday wrote to the ECP, requesting it to take notice of serious violations of code of conduct by the ruling PML-N candidates and initiate strict action against them.

“We have received serious complaints from voters/MPAs that the ruling party has started harassing them to procure votes in their favour. They are compelling the MPAs to carry their mobile phones or spy cameras for taking pictures of their ballot papers after marking the same. Moreover, the ruling party is also threatening MPAs on the pretext that with the help of hidden and security cameras, the whole process of secret voting would be monitored closely, and in case of failure to cast vote as per wishes of the ruling party, the MPAs would have to face severe consequences,” the letter says, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The PPP candidates further say such threats and illegal acts will not only undermine the sanctity of Senate election through secret ballot but would also be against the constitutional legal rights protected under Article 226 of the Constitution.

“There is every likelihood that in case the ECP does not take immediate preventive measures, it will fail to fulfill its constitutional obligations to prevent corrupt and illegal practice, as required under Article 218(3), that requires the EC to organize and conduct the election and make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the elections are conducted honestly, justly, fairly, and in accordance with law and that the corrupt practices are guarded against,” it says.

“As the ruling party is an interested party in the matter, therefore, we have strong apprehensions that the ruling party will make all efforts to procure the election result in its favour at any cost. Therefore, we cannot trust the Punjab police or security agencies, being under the direct administrative control and influence of the ruling party. Hence, the task of sweeping and clearance of the polling booths/voting areas from any hidden cameras/security cameras, is required to be entrusted to the army, ISI or MI being non-political and independent agencies,” the letter further demands.

The PPP candidates have also demanded that upon completion of the task in the presence of the contesting candidates on the voting day before commencement of the poll, a certificate of clearance confirming the desired area being free from any security or hidden cameras, be directed to be issued by the executing agency.

“There should be a complete prohibition on the MPAs/voters as well as the election/polling staff, the contesting candidates and their polling agents on carrying and use of mobile phones and spy cameras in the voting hall/area and the polling booths,” the PPP candidates demand.

On March 5, the Punjab Assembly’s 371 members will vote to elect 13 Senators - seven on general, two each on minority, women and technocrats seats. The PTI has boycotted the election from Punjab while the PPP and PML-Q have eight members each.

Published in Dawn March 3rd , 2015

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