GUJRAT: PML-N candidate for NA-75 (Daska) Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar has asked the chief election commissioner to personally monitor the re-poll on April 10 as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has made it ‘a matter of its ego.’

A tough contest is expected between PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi and PML N’s Nosheen Iftikhar whereas TLP’s candidate is also in the run.

She blamed the federal and Punjab governments for assigning task to the administration and police of Gujranwala region to win NA-75 for PTI candidate Asjad Malhi ‘at any cost’ for which, she claimed, a meeting of high-ups of Gujranwala region including that of Sialkot district administration and police had been held in Lahore where the chief minister’s message was reportedly conveyed to the officers.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, Ms Iftikhar said the CEC should stay in Daska to ensure free and fair elections and wherever any SHO or the government official is found involved in the wrong doing regarding the election duty, the CEC could take immediate action.

Adding she said at least a team comprising senior officers of ECP should be sent from Islamabad to directly monitor the Daska re-poll.

She said the police had started registration of cases and arrests of the PML N workers and supporters as a councilor, Ahmed Hassan from Glotian, had been held by police on Wednesday on the charge of inviting lawmakers to his areas. She said he was later released on her strong protest.

Similarly, she said a case was lodged against 15 workers of PML-N by the police earlier which was enough proof of involvement of police to harass her workers.

She said even the Rangers could not earlier handle the law and order situation in the constituency and this time she had heard of deployment of army troops at sensitive polling stations.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2021