TIMERGARA: Political parties continued to protest the alleged election rigging in Lower Dir district and warned that they would continue protesting until the Election Commission of Pakistan ordered vote recount in their respective constituencies.
The protesters declared the election ‘selection’ and alleged that the electoral exercise was manipulated to bring a particular party to power.
Scores of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal activists and supporters took to the streets in Balambat on Tuesday shouting slogans against the ECP over the alleged election rigging.
They alleged that heads of many polling stations didn’t issue Form 45 carrying election results to the MMA candidates on time.
Allege polls manipulated to bring a party to power
The speakers, including MMA candidate for NA-6 Maulana Asadullah, former minister Muzafar Said, former MPAs Saeed Gul, Izazul Mulk Afkari and Shad Nawaz Khan, said the July 25 elections were rigged as the ‘hidden forces’ stole the people’s mandate.
They said ironically, all parties except the PTI had questioned the fairness of elections.
The speakers insisted that the formal requests of MMA nominees for vote recount were turned down by the returning officers.
They said they would move the election tribunal for relief besides continuing with their street agitation.
The speakers claimed that religious and Pakhtun leaders were kept away from the National Assembly under a conspiracy.
Also, the ANP activists staged a rally outside the Timergara Press Club against election results.
The speakers, including ANP district president Hussain Shah Yousafzai, vice-president Ayub Khan, Imran Takur, alleged the elections were rigged, while their results were changed at night.
They also claimed that the ANP caps, badges and authority letters were snatched from the party’s polling agents, while their agents at women polling stations were stopped from observing vote count.
The speakers alleged that the votes of the people, who had passed away or lived abroad, were polled in the district. They said the Pakhtun leadership had been denied representation in assemblies under a scheme.
The speakers said the protest would continue until the demand for vote recount was met.
COMPENSATION: The Election Commission of Pakistan announced the compensation of Rs1 million each for the families of woman presiding officer Sajida Begum and police constable Ubaidullah, who were killed by floodwaters in Kharkanai area of Lower Dir on election day.
Their vehicle was swept away by the flashfloods in Mayar Khadagzai area on July 25 night when they’re returning to the ECP offices from PK-14 Polling Station No 45 along with election material, including ballot papers.
Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2018