Suggests amendments in rules, code of conduct and ethics through consensus with political parties to avoid violations in future

ISLAMABAD   -  Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), has sought action against officials involved in NA-75 Daska by-elections incident.

The opposition leader in his letter to CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja has asked the Commission to take action against the officials involved in rigging from upper to lower level.

Shehbaz Sharif further asked the Commission to take legal action against the accused officials and deal with them with iron hand.

Shehbaz in his letter also asked CEC to take action against those who had been sending directions to the district adminstration for rigging and stealing others mandate.

The opposition leader suggested amendments in the rules, code of conduct and ethics through consensus with political parties in order to avoid such violations in future.

Citing the findings of inquiry reports, Opposition leader in his letter mentioned that the main findings in the first report are that as per official records obtained from various sources including PTA, Intelligence Bureau, police, and statements of POs and other election officials, the by-election was not held in a fair, free and transparent manner.

The letter further mentioned that election officials and other government functionaries were found to be “puppets in the hands of their unlawful masters”.

It claimed that report revealed that the 20 ‘missing’ POs concealed facts and “manipulated replies”, shifting blame to the police; however they were clearly guilty of “negligence and maladministration.

About the findings of second report, the letter says that one of the key findings in the second report was that the District Administration was “in the loop” regarding “undesired and illegal incidents” in the by-election.

It maintained that ‘lethargic’ behavior of the DPO and senior police officers “strengthened the apprehensions that the department was already in knowledge of what was going on and they allowed to let the things happen (sic) as per planning”. The DC and DPO Sialkot have been found guilty of misconduct, said the letter.

Demanding action against the accused officials, Shehbaz Sharif asked the Commission to exercise its powers under Section 191 of the Act to file complaints before the court of sessions, Daska, against all election officials / persons performing duties in connection with the election who have been identified as having committed offences under Sections 184,186 and 187, punishable under Section 188 of the Act.

He, in his letter, further urged the Commission to exercise its powers under Section 190 to file complaints against persons found to be involved in offences under Section 167 (read with Section 172) and Section 175, punishable under Sections 174 and 183, respectively.