ECP reserves verdict on Elahi’s by-poll plea for PP-32

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its decision on the petition filed by former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi for by-elections on PP-32.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja conducted the hearing.

Elahi’s lawyer alleged that they had not even allowed his client to submit his nomination papers in the by-election on April 21. The by-election was allegedly rigged, as Elahi’s 70 polling agents were arrested by the police from 168 polling stations on the day of by-election, the official news agency reported.

The lawyer argued that 70 of their polling agents were named in the FIR on the accusation of road blocking. “The ballot papers were stamped after our polling agents were removed, indicating a turnout of more than 91 percent at five polling stations in the constituency,” he said.

Elahi’s lawyer stated that he is presenting documents from a polling station and attaching death certificates. Deceased individuals have reportedly cast votes; such cases have been observed at this polling station, he said.