Even ROs are calling for re-polls in KP

• ECP withholds results of 350 polling stations after 11 ROs appear before ECP, seek re-polling on account of massive mismanagement
• Most complaints have sought re-polling in Peshawar, Nowshera, Karak and Charsadda

In another twist to the controversy surrounding the recently held local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the returning officers (ROs) have sought re-polling in around 350 polling stations while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has withheld the notifications of returned candidates of all the 350 constituencies after receipt of complaints.

The withheld notifications included Liaquat Khattak, the KP Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak’s brother, who had contested elections for Zila Council seat from Nowshera.

A source in the ECP told Pakistan Today that the ROs had sent written requests to the ECP, claiming that due to inadequate security provision, massive mismanagement was witnessed on the polling day, hence only a re-polling could ensure justice to the electorate of the province. Most of the complaints received sought re-polling in several cities including Peshawar, Nowshera, Karak, Charsadda, etc.

The source said that there were a total 11,117 polling stations in 24 districts of the KP province where polling had been recently held, while a total of 470 ROs were appointed across the province.

“The ROs have sent reports to the ECP, stating that out of the total 11,117 polling stations, polling was held according to the law at 10,767 polling stations. However, mismanagement and hooliganism was witnessed at 350 polling stations where re-polling should be held,” the source added.

The source said that in their written reports, the ROs had said that following the receipt of the complaints, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan decided to summon all the ROs who sought another poll to determine whether the request was made under political pressure or if it was based on facts.

“On Friday, a full bench of the ECP headed by the CEC who heard complaints from 11 ROs of Peshawar. The ROs briefed the bench that inadequate security led to attacks by armed mobs at their polling stations who intruded into the polling stations, beat up the polling staff and disrupted the polling process. The ROs said that in some constituencies, the armed men kidnapped the polling staff and took away their ballot boxes,” the source said, adding that army personnel later rescued the kidnapped officials.

The ROs sought polling at 26 polling stations. The source added that the ROs also informed the bench that at one polling station in Peshawar, women could not poll votes because incorrect voter lists had been provided there.

“The voters’ lists provided to the poling staff were of some other constituency so the women could not vote,” the source said and added that at another polling station, an armed mob disrupted the vote counting process and took away the ballot boxes.

The source added that the bench has summoned 24 ROs from Nowshera district for Saturday’s hearing.

“The CEC has sought the personal appearance of all the ROs to judge whether the request for repolling were genuine,” the source added.