ECP Additional Secy, accused of playing key role in electoral rigging, goes on leave
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sunday summoned a key meeting on Tuesday to review allegations being levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan regarding vote fraud in May 2013 general elections.
The meeting would be headed by acting chief election commissioner (CEC) Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and the ECP secretary and all four members of the commission would be present.
Meanwhile, former CEC Kanwar Dilshad has said that all returning officers (ROs) were not involved in the rigging and only those ROs should be summoned who rigged 2013 general polls. He said that controversial ROs should be singled out.
“Under which law did the then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry address the ROs?” the former CEC asked.
Dilshad further suggested that all those printers who printed extra ballot papers should also be penalised.
ANOTHER ECP OFFICIAL TO GO ON LEAVE:
In the meanwhile, a local news outfit reported that following Punjab Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwar, ECP Additional Secretary Syed Sher Afghan has also been granted a four-month leave as the electoral body continues to face wrath of a section of politicians for alleged rigging in 2013 polls.
In one of his news briefings, PTI chief Khan had alleged that Afghan played a key role in the alleged electoral fraud.
ECP senior officials reportedly confirmed that the additional secretary who is also director general election would go for a poll-related course from August 25 to January 1.
“Afghan’s absences for four months will create a vacuum as ECP may have to swing into action to hold unusual by-elections to fill NA seats to be vacated by the PTI legislators who have already submitted resignations,” the officials pointed out.
“Moreover, electoral reforms are under way and ECP could have to face poll probes and present its stance and clear its position thereon,” he noted.
An Establishment Division official said that Afghan’s name was included in the list quite late – after Khan’s news conference on August 11.
The ECP official declined to comment when asked whether it was because earlier the matter pertaining to Afghan was put on hold or delayed.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier Mehboob had gone on a two-month leave and a joint election commissioner who retried on August 11 was given two months extension to look after Punjab in place of Mehboob.
It is widely believed that Mehboob is likely to be given a year’s extension after he rejoins his duty. He is to retire within two months after his leave ends. It is believed that by the time he is back, all the noise and criticism regarding ECP and Mehboob’s alleged role in poll rigging would fizzle out.