Re-election ordered on Hafizabad's NA-103

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission on Wednesday declared the result for NA-103 void and ordered re-polling in the Hafizabad constituency as it upheld the objections raised by a losing candidate that election on the seat was marred by rigging.

The Election Commission’s order came on the complaint of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Hussain Bhatti who had lost to independent candidate Liaquat Hussain Bhatti.

The Election Commission on May 18 had issued recount orders for the constituency. However, today, it said that in the wake of large-scale rigging reports it has been decided to hold re-election in the constituency.

The May 11 general elections witnessed a huge turnout but allegations of rigging also clouded its transparency partly, particularly from opposition Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf.

Earlier on Monday, PTI chief Imran Khan had a statement saying he believed that Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had failed in dispensing with their duties to check rigging.

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Comments (7) Closed

Nadeem Ullah

Jun 12, 2013 12:16pm

Re-polling where PML-N lost, and, hesitating even to re-count where PTI complained ! What a justice ! 'Large scale rigging' is accepted when PML-N complains, and, when PTI complains, Chief Justice says 'No one can object on fair elections in Punjab'.

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JAVAID KHAN

Jun 12, 2013 12:47pm

Election comission should also give similar decisions for PTI candidates who lost as a result of massive scale rigging in Karachi and other parts of the country.

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muzammil ullah khan

Jun 12, 2013 05:31pm

A pliant ECP . There have been many complaints by TIP and others but those were ignored . Now that PML-N has asked for reelection the ECP has readily agreed !! How about that !!

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Naeem

Jun 12, 2013 06:03pm

One can expect such decisions of re-polling and re-counting by ECP for such seats where PMLN candidate has lost.....what a pity..

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Aamir

Jun 12, 2013 08:26pm

ECP took action on complaint of PMLn candidate. lol What about almost all constituencies where a huge number of rigging complains made by other parties?

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Hasnain Haque

Jun 12, 2013 08:40pm

@Nadeem Ullah: This is the problem in Pakistan that nothing is honest, transparent and democratic. Massive rigging, threats, feudal lords controlling peoples lives and forcing them to vote for them, giving bribes and offering favours are all part of Pakistani life. Until this mindset of personal gains and corruption ends, nothing will change in Pakistan. If you hold fair and transparent elections, I promise you PTI will win with a landslide victory.

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Nadeem Ullah

Jun 13, 2013 05:42pm

@Hasnain Haque: Very well said. The easiest solution to this rigging is computerized voting. India has this in place since 2003 ! We too are capable, the only thing missing is sincerity as it won't let some people rig the elections anymore.

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