Most by-elections are unfortunately marked by violence and allegations of rigging. The NA-75 by-election, held in February in Daska was no different when it led to clashes between voters and police breaking out in multiple places, including polling stations and a police station several times during the day. While it is a sad fact about the state of politics today that controversy has been expected from almost every by-election, recent revelations that have come out after a report was released on Friday by the Election Commission of Pakistan indicates that the issues created in Daska in February have far darker origins than previously thought.
The report concludes that election officials, police and the local administration failed to play their “designated role in a requisite manner and were found to be puppets in the hands of their unlawful masters” during the by-election. The ECP report also revealed that the concerned authorities including police and officials of district administration performing their duties during elections were fully involved in the incident; it also implicates known politicians for being aware.
This report is highly incriminating for the credibility of our election system but especially for the government. The ruling party has often been at the forefront of campaigning against rigging and advocating for free and fair elections. PTI also appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the ECP directives to conduct re-polling in the entire constituency of NA-75 Daska.
It is unforgivable that in 2021, there was still negligence in the process of the by-poll on part of the government in an election that was crucial. Just negligence would bring liability but the allegation that there was deliberate maladministration on part of relevant officials and a “pre-planned scam” is unacceptable. This report must be taken extremely seriously. The integrity of future elections is at stake. The findings must now go to court and those named must be called to give an explanation.