CHINIOT
The Election Commission of Pakistan’s staff in Chiniot is allegedly fleecing the local voters who want to get their names shifted from the lists of one ward to another.
The ECP staff and teachers tasked with the verification of the voters’ addresses earlier demanded Rs10,000 for transfer of 100 votes but near the last date for applicaiton, they charge Rs500 for registration or transfer of each vote, alleged sources.
As per the sources, the same teachers have been discharging these responsibilities for the last 15 years. “Various candidates and their respective supporters have applied to the ECP for transfer of their votes. The reshuffling of votes is particularly being made to benefit the PML-N candidates,” the sources said. They alleged that the ECP staff was transferring votes with connivance of the PML-N candidates on bogus affidavits, utility bills and rent deed.
The local political and social circular have demanded that the ECP should take a stern action against the “illegal transfer” of votes to ensure free and fair holding of local bodies elections.