The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), while reacting to a local commission’s report on NA-122 Lahore constituency, has called for legal action against the polling staff deputed in the constituency for 2013 General Elections.
The ECP officials reportedly remarked that absence of signatures and stamps on the counterfoils of the ballot papers is a serious case of professional negligence.
The officials maintained that if such mismanagement alters the outcome of polling then it falls into the definition of “rigging”, adding that the local commission cannot issue a verdict in the case as commission’s job is only to probe the election.
ECP officials claimed that it is the duty of the election tribunal to decide whether it was “rigging” or “mismanagement” that altered the result in NA-122.
The ECP also called on the parliament to legislate for stronger laws.
NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had sought a recount and verification of voters’ thumb impressions.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N’s) Ayaz Sadiq had won from the constituency in the 2013 General Elections whereas PTI Chairman Imran Khan was the runner up.
