The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given directive to authorities to arrest the persons (after forensic analyses of the videos) who can be seen in the videos, distributing cash for ‘buying votes’
It is pertinent to note that the National Assembly constituency had fallen vacant after the death of PML-N’s Pervaiz Malik last month.
The leaked videos have caused an uproar on Twitter, with PML-N and PPP leaders accusing each other of trying to buy votes in the constituency.
Soon after the videos surfaced, Returning Officer Syed Basit Ali wrote letters to the Punjab Police chief, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Lahore deputy commissioner and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in order to seek more information about the persons seen in the video clips, so that action could be taken against them.
As per the letters, the videos show “people standing in long queues” and others noting their CNIC numbers.
“Behind the scene discussions give an impression that voters’ credentials are being noted for buying their votes by paying them some amounts in cash,” the letter states, adding that some pictures and banners of contesting candidates can also be seen in the background. In a letter to the NADRA chairman, the returning officer sought help in identifying the persons seen in the clips.
Meanwhile, a letter addressed to the Lahore DC also directed the authorities to identify the individuals and the building seen in the footage in order to aid the ECP in its investigation into the incident.
In his letter to the Punjab IGP, RO Ali ordered police to carry out forensic analyses of the videos in order to ascertain their authenticity as well as their origin. The letter also directed the police to identify the people visible in the footage and arrest them, while also identifying the building where the activity was taking place.
A letter to Pemra chairman also ordered that the authority conduct forensic analyses of the clips, which were also aired on mainstream media.
Meanwhile, MNA Ali Pervez Malik The PML-N MNA appealed to the PPP leadership to take notice of the “antics by their party workers in the NA-133 constituency”, adding that he had also complained to the RO about the issue.
He further accused the PPP of buying votes in the constituency and also running a campaign featuring a fake video in which “all the characters are wearing masks to hide their faces.”
Meanwhile, the ruling PTI, whose candidate and returned candidate were both disqualified by the ECP last month for having their votes registered in a different constituency, also accused the PML-N of attempting to buy votes.
The party’s Senator Ejaz Chaudhry said that the video clips had exposed the “true face” of the PML-N.
The PPP’s candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam Gill said that the PML-N had psychologically lost the election already, adding that buying votes was an old tactic of the PML-N.
“They have always done so. If electioneering is expensive in Pakistan today, it is because of Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
Earlier, a camera footage making rounds on social media purportedly shows office-bearers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) engaged in buying of votes ahead of a crucial by-election in NA-133 (Lahore-XI).
لاہور میں حلقہ NA133 کےضمنی الیکشن کے حوالےسے مختلف لوگ یہ ویڈیو بھیج رہے ہیں جس میں واضع دیکھا اور سنا جا سکتا ہے کہ ن لیگ کے ذمہ داران 2000روپے میں حلف لیکرووٹ خریدرہے ہیں۔ @MaryamNSharif صاحبہ اس معاملہ کی فوری تحقیقات ناگزیر ہیں بصورت دیگراس سے کئی اورسوالات جنم لیں گے👇 pic.twitter.com/OHku9atFyv
— waqar satti 🇵🇰 (@waqarsatti) November 27, 2021
The constituency is a key Lahore seat that fell vacant after the death of Pervaiz Malik, Lahore president of PML-N, in October. The party has nominated his wife, Shaista Pervaiz, for the by-election scheduled for December 5.
Pervaiz is already a member of the National Assembly on a reserved seat.
The video that surfaced late Saturday shows two men taking oaths on Quran, registering names of those selling votes and handing undisclosed amounts of money to them.
Posters of PML-N leadership, including Pervaiz, are visible in the background.
After the video went viral on social media platforms, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take action against the suspects.
“The video is a big proof [of PML-N engaging in illegal practices],” he said.
The minister said the videos have proved the conscience [of the voters] is being bought in blatant violation of the election laws. “What other evidence does the ECP need [to take action]? Immediate notice should be taken.”
It merits a mention here the PML-N has staunchly opposed proposed election reforms aimed at curbing the notorious practices of election rigging and vote buying, claiming these would only benefit the ruling party.
