ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary Baber Yaqub said that polling process during the first phase of Local Government (LG) election was completely peaceful except strife seen in Khairpur. He said that printing and supplies were completed on-time under supervision of Army and Rangers personnel.
Baber Yaqub while addressing press conference in Islamabad said that 14 policemen including SHO were deployed in Khairpur district at the incident’s site while heavy contingents of military troops were sent immediately to bring situation under control.
He detailed that a FIR was filed against Rai Mujtaba Kharal over torturing a Returning Officer (RO). He added that re-polling will be organised in two UCs and four wards of Sindh, as well as two UCs and 17 wards of Punjab province. Overall 143 complaints including 92 from Sindh and 51 from Punjab were received by the ECP central monitoring cell.
Yaqub clarified that responsible persons will be questioned over mismanagement in printing of ballot papers besides investigation on contempt of ballot papers in Okara.
While praising efforts of media, ECP secretary said that the institution was thankful to the media for providing the nation updates of every minutes during the Local Government (LG) election in both provinces.
Earlier, Secretary Election Commission (EC) Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad on Saturday had visited the monitoring room established in ECP Islamabad for the surveillance of local body polls.
While talking to media, he said that at least 1,92,000 polling staff has been deployed and more than 20,000 polling stations have been established for the first phase of LB polls. He informed that some complaints are being received regarding non-registration of votes but the issue cannot be resolved today. Babar Yaqoob said that some candidates are demanding the deployment of Rangers at polling stations in Sindh.
He barred the presiding officers from preparing the results of LB polls before 5 pm and termed the process illegal. Results cannot be organized before fixed time despite the consent of the polling agents, he added. The monitoring room has been established to scrutinize the polling process and timely redress of complaints.
