PESHAWAR - Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao Monday accused provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of mismanagement and negligence during local government elections and directed party office bearers to prepare a district-wise analysis report on alleged rigging and misconduct.
In a statement issued from QWP Secretariat, Watan Kor, on Monday, he said that country has witnessed the worst elections since its creation as the common people still do not know which candidate has won and who has lost it. He added that there were insufficient security arrangements at almost all polling stations across the province, which paved way for mismanagement and irregularities at the polling stations and resulted in scuffles among workers of different political parties on minor issues. The human loss could be prevented if provincial government takes prompt security measures ahead of the elections, he added.
He further said that due to lack of proper security arrangements and inadequate polling staff by ECP, most of the people including female voters faced numerous problems while casting their votes. “Unavailability of ballot papers in many polling stations and misprinting of election symbols by ECP and stealing of ballot boxes by political workers clearly showed the poor performance of provincial government as well as inability of the Election Commission of Pakistan,” Sherpao highlighted.
Expressing concerns over extension of time at certain polling stations, QWP chief said that changing of polling stations on elections day and preventing of female voters had put a question mark over the conduct of the so-called free and fair elections.” Keeping in mind such mismanagement and irregularities, will the provincial government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announce judicial commission to wipe out the concerns of other political parties,” he questioned.
Aftab Sherpao while appointing Information Secretary Tariq Ahmad Khan as head of election analysis committee said that reports of rigging, mismanagement and other irregularities during LG elections had been sought from all districts candidates and the party would disclose its stance in this regard after thorough consultation with contesting candidates and other office bearers.