ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday announced to hold a fact-finding inquiry into the NA-75 Daska by-poll fiasco besides appointing an officer to commence a thorough probe.
The provincial joint election commissioner of Punjab, Saeed Gul, has been appointed as the inquiry officer and tasked to present its report till May 15, it emerged. The inquiry will uncover the fact about the disappearance of the presiding officers (POs) on February 19.
The inquiry officer will scrutinise the violations of duties made by the POs and election staff besides recording the statements of the presiding officers, INP reported. Saeed Gul was given powers to seek assistance from any federal or provincial institution to conclude its probe.
The transportation and security plan will also be reviewed during the inquiry, as well as ascertaining the concerned officers who were involved in alleged result tempering and helping those who took away the polling staff on the by-election day.
On Feb 25, the ECP had ordered re-election in the NA-75 Sialkot-Daska constituency over alleged rigging and irregularities.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to order re-polling at all polling stations in NA-75.
However, the Supreme Court (SC) had upheld the ECP’s decision to hold re-polling in the entire National Assembly constituency NA-75 in Daska.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umer Ata Bandial had heard the petition of PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, challenging the ECP order of February 25, 2021, declaring the by-election at NA-75 Daska void and ordering re-polling in the whole constituency.
The election commission will organise re-election on April 10 in Daska’s NA-75 constituency following the orders of the top court.
Meanwhile, it emerged on Wednesday that the ECP has barred the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from holding a rally in Daska.
