Counting is underway as voting time ended in NA-75 Daska by-election in Sialkot after Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to hold re-polling in the constituency after much ‘controversial’ and deadly election held on February 19th earlier this year.
The voting started on 8 am and ended at 5 pm. PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi and PML-N’s Nosheen Iftikhar are contesting the NA-75 Daska seat. Pakistan Rangers and additional Punjab Police personnel have been deployed in the constituency to ensure peace and law and order.
More than 4,000 police officers and 1,048 Rangers personnel have been deployed in the area, while 10 teams of the Pakistan Army’s Quick Response Force will also assist civil administration in maintaining law and order situation.
Armed Men Arrested
Police apprehended nine armed men over violation of Section 144 in Aguchak area of Daska. The arrested individuals were taken into custody near a polling station and belong from both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Kalashnikovs, two pistols, a rifle has been recovered from the apprehended individuals, whereas police have also seized two vehicles.
ECP Issues Show-Cause Notices To PTI, PML-N Leaders
ECP has issued show-cause notices to PML-N MPA Zeeshan Rafiq and Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information – Firdous Ashiq Awan over the violation of election code of conduct during NA-75 Daska by-elections.
ECP Chief Reassures ‘Free And Fair’ Election
In a statement, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has reassured that ECP is committed towards ensuring a free and fair by-election.
The ECP chief encouraged voters to come out and cast their vote without any fear.
Meanwhile, presiding officers have been explicitly directed to provide the copies of Form 45 after getting their signatures. Furthermore, presiding officers will send the copies of the forms to the returning officer on WhatsApp.
NA-75 By-Elections
NA-75 and PP-51 seats were vacated after PML-N’s MNA Syed Iftikhar-ud-Din and MPA Chaudhry Shaukat Manzoor Cheema passed away in August and June 2020
Both PTI and PML-N had fiercely contested the by-elections on February 19th earlier this year; PTI fielded Ali Asjad, whereas Noshin Iftikhar is contesting the by-polls on PML-N ticket on both occasions.
The previous by-polls were marred by violence as two people were killed during a firing incident on the polling day. The incident took place at Gondka polling station where three people were shot, two of them later succumbed to their injures while being transferred to hospital.
The deceased were identified as Majid belonging from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Zeeshan, a Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) worker.
A total of eight people were also wounded in various violent confrontations between PML-N and PTI workers throughout the constituency.
Serious Irregularities, ECP Orders Re-polling In NA-75 Daska By-Elections
ECP had ordered re-polling to be conducted in Sialkot’s NA-75 Daska by-elections after its results were challenged by PML-N citing irregularities and rigging.
ECP has declared the by-election results as ‘null and void’, followed by re-polling on March 18th. The decision of holding re-polling has been made upon PML-N’s request.
It is to be noted that ECP had withheld the by-election results as at least 20 presiding officers (POs) went ‘missing’ along with various district administrative officers who were ‘unavailable’ too.
