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ISLAMABAD: Taking serious notice of the manhandling of an assistant presiding officer at a polling station in Tando Mohammad Khan, the Election Commission (EC) decided on Monday to withhold the official result of by-election in the constituency till the completion of an inquiry against PPP's candidate Syeda Waheeda Shah.
The Returning Officer for the Sindh Assembly seat PS-53, Ali Asghar Sial, was asked to immediately take cognisance of the matter under Section 86A of the Representation of People Act, 1976, and other provisions for alleged violation of the law, hold an inquiry, hear the parties and pass orders. The inquiry should be conducted in the office of the provincial election commissioner within seven days, it said.Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza asked the provincial election commissioner to take necessary action under the law.
On the CEC's directive, an FIR was registered against Ms Shah under Section 86(3)(b) of the Representation of People Act at the Tando Mohammad Khan police station.
The CEC made it clear that no-one would be allowed to threaten or use force against the polling staff whose services had been hired by the Election Commission. He said the commission would take all possible steps to protect the polling staff and take exemplary action under the law against anyone indulging in any illegal activity to disrupt peaceful atmosphere at polling stations.
The slapping of the assistant presiding officer at polling station No16, Government Girls High School by the candidate on Feb 25 was viewed very seriously by the Election Commission which condemned the unruly behaviour of a person aspiring to represent the people.
Expressing concern and disappointment over inaction of police personnel present on the occasion, the commission asked the Sindh police chief to proceed against them and submit a report within a week.
On a complaint from Mir Mushtaq Ali Talpur, another candidate in the constituency, the commission issued notices to all the parties for March 6.
Hussain Khan adds from Hyderabad:Tando Mohammad Khan police registered the case on the complaint of the returning officer who lodged it on the directive of the provincial election commissioner.
According to Tando Mohammad Khan DSP Irfan Shah, the RO stated in the FIR that he had reached the polling station after being called by the police official to tackle the situation after Ms Shah slapped the presiding and assistant presiding officers. The RO didn't ask police to detain the candidate and, instead, let her go.
