The Punjab Election Commission has not been given green signal by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the official results despite lapse of two weeks.
Officials of the provincial election commission requesting anonymity said that it could still take four to five days as the Commission wanted to release error-free results.
They said the Commission was also pondering over different things that it had faced during the first phase of the elections and was trying hard to avoid them during next two phases. They also claimed for the time being it cannot be said that results of next phases would be within short period or take time like the first phase.
It is pertinent mention here that Punjab Election Commissioner Masud Ahmad Malik had claimed before the media in his office that the Commission would be announcing results within four to five days after holding of the elections on October 31.
On the other hand, DRO Muhammad Tahir had also claimed that official results could be declared within four to five days, because the officials of Punjab Election Commission had worked to his satisfaction. He had also said that it would be the responsibility of the Punjab Election Commission and the ECP also to declare the official results as his office had completed the duty regarding holding of elections on October 31.
When contacted PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri about his party’s reservation over the delay in officials results of LG elections Phase-1, he said the Commission should announce the official results. The delay in the results is unnecessary, he added. But he said, “The Commission could not be directed by any party about the timely results”. He said the Commission should announce results of recent first phase as per aspiration and demands of the political parties and candidates.
Talking to this scribe, PTI Punjab Organsier Chaudhry Sarwar said, “His party candidates are also waiting for official results, and ECP should not delay results further and it should complete its formalities regarding the results. He said his party would contest in rest two phases despite reservations over the holding of LG-elections.
“The ECP should also take notice of the announcement of allocation of funds for the winners before the official results,” Sarwar said.
When contacted Punjab Election Commission spokesperson Huda Gohar, she said that she could not outline the reasons about delay in official results despite lapse of 14 days. She said her boss Masud Ahmad had not confirmed her office about the date and time about the results yet because there is no signal in this regard from quarters concerned.
She did not reply to a question that what are the complications in announcing the results, if Punjab Election Commission has completed its task of finalising the results.
