Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate for NA-246 by poll Imran Ismail Saturday called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to play its mandated role to ensure a free and fair ballot on April 23.
“Vote count should be carried out in the presence of Rangers personnel,” Ismail said while talking to reporters in Karachi. “The paramilitary forces must not leave the polling booths before ensuring the vote count process is completed fairly.”
The PTI candidate alleged that the election commission was not taking notice of violence against their workers and threatening tactics were being used against them during their rallies. “We have, time and again, requested the ECP to discuss this matter with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM),” he added.
Ismail also alleged that the MQM was collecting identity cards from the locals of NA-246. “We had reported this to ECP before and have done so today as well,” he said.
Ismail said they were trying to make the election free and fair, adding that none of its demand would, by any means, give edge to PTI over others.
The PTI candidate said his party had identified at least four ghost polling stations in the constituency: Zubaida Hashmani Ishaqabad, City College Moosa Colony, MetropolitanFoundationSchool and Siraj-ud-DaulaCollege FC Area.
“The ECP has assured that their officers would go in the field to investigate the existence of such ghost polling stations and that they would be closed down,” Ismail said, adding: “CityCollege in Moosa Colony is office of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) and there is no such place by the name of Zubaida Hashmani.” Ismail said there was risk of ballot papers being stolen from printing press.