ECP stops KP government from probe into rigging in LG polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday wrote a letter to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, making it clear that only the ECP was authorised to investigate any alleged rigging during the Local Government (LG) polls held earlier in the province.
According to a Geo News report, the ECP stated in the letter that the provincial government did not have the mandate to take any action against any official allegedly involved in rigging or mismanagement during the LG polls.
It went on to say that the ECP itself was entirely responsible for all the matters related to elections and if need be, the ECP could direct the provincial government to hold an inquiry.The KP government had constituted an inquiry committee for investigating the reasons behind the mismanagement and fraud during the LG polls.
The four-member committee, headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, was to submit its report to the government within 15 days.Meanwhile, the ECP, in its reply submitted to the Inquiry Commission constituted to probe the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections, contended that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had backtracked from most of its rigging allegations. It said that the 2013 general elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner as no evidence of rigging could be found.
The ECP said in its reply that the PTI had neither levelled clear allegations nor had it submitted any evidence in this regard.The written reply sent by the ECP to the Inquiry Commission, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal, said that the PTI had not presented any proof on the allegation of getting ballot papers printed from the Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, and there was no proof as to who had used the additional ballot papers and on whose order.
The ECP said that the PTI charges on printing of additional ballot papers and their misuse were unfounded and uncalled for. It said that no proof could be found about the Returning Officers who were blamed for filling the ballot boxes.
The ECP maintained that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was at the top with regard to the missing Form 15s while Sindh was at the second position and Punjab stood at third. The ECP maintained that the missing Form 15s and broken ballot boxes seals were mismanagement and not mala fide in intention.
It said the Nadra report also did not prove the rigging while the PTI also withdrew its two proposed witnesses and, therefore, the ECP was justified in saying that the 2013 elections were fair, impartial and transparent.