LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central Punjab president Dr Yasmin Rashid has demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) fulfil its duties by acting on her evidence-supported complaint about the unprecedented increase in voters in two union councils of the PP-167 as well as removal of votes from the voters’ lists, declaring people dead.

Speaking at a press conference at a PTI office on Friday, Dr Rashid said the election commissioner replied that it was the mistake of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to declare millions of people dead. She said she had also presented a petition before the election commission that polling agents belonging to other constituencies should be allowed to be deputed. She said it took nine days to pursue the commission and eventually the high court admonished the election commissioner to allow deputing polling agents from other constituencies.

Ms Rashid alleged that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was using police to harass the PTI workers.

“We are not afraid of state terrorism and will fight at every forum,” she declared.

Commission says plaints unfounded

She also revealed that she had received calls from ‘no caller’ IDs and the caller posing as an official of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) who leveled corruption charges against her. “I asked him to send me a notice and (I) will duly reply,” she said.

Dr Rashid said the election commissioner should take notice of development work being carried out by the PML-N government in by-election constituencies.

Punjab Election Commissioner Saeed Gul, replying to a question about alleged bogus entries in the voters’ list, clarified the PTI was confusing the voters’ list being prepared for 2023 general election which remained on display till June 30 with the ones finalised in 2020. He said additions and deletions to old lists were made till May 25 this year when the election schedule for the by-polls for 20 seats was announced.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022