BADIN: MNA-elect Dr Fehmida Mirza, who won NA-230 and PS-73 on a ticket of Grand Democratic Alliance, has rejected election results and alleged “massive rigging and electoral irregularities” were committed in the polls process.

The former speaker of National Assembly said at a press conference at Morjhar House near here on Friday evening that election results were changed in the premises of courts and offices of district returning officers.

She claimed that all returning officers were involved in manoeuvring the results of which she had proof with her. People’s mandate had been snatched, she said, adding that many of her agents at polling stations were not given Form 45 while many others were handed results scribbled on plain papers.

She said that votes were cast even by “dead voters” in connivance with presiding officers.

This general election was similar to the local bodies’ polls as far as level of mismanagement was concerned, she said.

She said that more than 10,000 ballots cast by her supporters were rejected in her constituencies. “I have already reported to the Election Commission of Pakistan, DROs and ROs, about our serious concerns but [our] complaints had not triggered any action yet,” she said.

The ROs did not provide names of presiding officers even after she complained that most of the presiding officers were relatives of her opponent, who had tampered with results, she said.

She alleged that polling station No. 71 in Murad Talpur union council was changed unlawfully and her rivals distributed huge money among voters with complete impunity in gross violation of election’s code of conduct.

Unfortunately, she said, immediately after election results were announced her opponents in Matli and Kadhan started harassing her voters and a supporter was murdered in Kadhan area.

She said that several incidents of harassment were reported to her. “There is law of jungle and no one is ready to care for people’s grievances,” she said.

Asked would she accept the process of vote recount by the returning officers concerned scheduled for Saturday, she said: “I will join the process and if I noticed any violation of rules, I will make complaints to all higher authorities concerned and will not allow anyone to disrespect people’s mandate”.

Dr Fehmida’s son Barrister Hasnain Mirza, spouse Dr Zulfikar Mirza and others were also present at the press conference.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018