ECP asks Imran Khan to explain vote casting controversy

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PakistanToday
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  • Under ECP’s Section 185 of the Election Act, a person can be sentenced to six months in jail and/or fined Rs1,000 for not casting vote in secrecy

  • Imran Khan’s counsel says individuals will not rule during PTI tenure, institutions will be in power

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)  on Monday sought a written reply from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan over controversial vote casting during general election 2018.

Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan appeared before the ECP earlier in the day, after ECP issued a notice to Imran over his vote casting in NA-53, as the PTI chief’s voting exercise was captured on video, violating the ECP’s “secrecy of ballot” code.

Instead of going behind the voting screen to cast his vote in secrecy, Imran had stamped his ballot papers openly while TV cameras were filming him. Neither the presiding officer nor the polling staff objected to the violation.

After hearing Awan’s arguments over the matter, the electoral body ordered a written reply from the PTI chief and adjourned the hearing till August 16.

According to ECP’s Section 185 of the Election Act, a person can be sentenced to six-month in jail and/or fined Rs1,000 for not casting vote in secrecy.

Talking to media outside the ECP office, Awan said that institutions will be in power under PTI government. “Individuals will not rule during PTI tenure, institutions will be in power,” the counsel said, adding that the nation’s wishes will be the guidelines for the party.

Answering a question, Awan said that the PTI chief has not yet decided who would be the chief minister of Punjab.

‘POLLING STAFF TO BE BLAMED’: 

PTI leader Naeemul Haq blamed polling staff for the violation arguing that there was no place to cast vote in private as the polling booth had become crowded far beyond its capacity, for which the polling staff was to be blamed.

Another PTI leader Faisal Javed also blamed polling staff stating that media persons were present inside the booth and it was the duty of polling staff to stop them.

Imran Khan-led PTI witnessed resounding victory in general polls as opposition parties planned protests over alleged rigging.

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