‘ECP to notify election results on March 2’ | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

‘ECP to notify election results on March 2’

KARACHI (February 28 2008): The Election Commission of Pakistan is all set to issue notification of final results on March 2, 2008. “We would issue the notification of final results within a couple of days…on March 2,” Provincial Election Commissioner Chaudri Qamr-uz-Zaman told Business Recorder here on Wednesday.

He said issuance of the notification was awaiting certain details on election expenses returns from the contestants, which needs to be submitted within 10 days of the vote under Para 3-A of Section 39. “We have set February 28 as deadline for submission of the expenses return,” he added.

The PEC also put the ball in Islamabad’s court when questioned on the fate of alleged poll rigging. “Those who are not satisfied with the unofficial election results may approach the election tribunal under section 52,” the PEC said.

Candidates, who questioned the unofficial results, include Mirza Ikhtiar Beg, Mir Hasan Khan Khoso, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Agha Arsalan Khan, Najmi Alam, Faisal Raza Abidi, Abdul Hakim Baloch, Mohammad Rafiq Baloch, Shabbir Qureshi, Zulfiqar Behan and Qurban Ali Behan from NA-250 (Karachi), PS-15 (Jacobabad), NA-202 (Shikarpur), PS-12 (Shikarpur), PS-112 (Karachi), NA-253 (Karachi), PS-126 (Karachi), PS-127 (Karachi), PS-92 (Karachi), NA-211 (Naushehro Feroze) and PS-23 (Nushehro Feroze), respectively from Pakistan People’s Party.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Dr K S Mujahid Baloch, Shaikh Mohammad Feroze, Ashfaq Ahmad Mangi, Salahuddin, and Sattar Khan also challenged the unofficial results from NA-239, PS-89, PS-90, PS-93 and PS-128, respectively.

While Salim Zia of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz joined the others in terming the polls as unfair in PS-113, Zulfiqar Ali Kamaryo of the former ruling PML-Q also cried foul in PS-9, Garhi Yasin, Shikarpur.

The PEC said that the complainants would have to file their petitions within 45 days of the final notification. “A commission comprising senior high court judges in Islamabad would hear the appeals,” he added.

On formation of the government, he said independent candidates would be given three days to announce political affiliation with the parties of their choice. Then, he said, the fate of the seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies would be decided. “This would be followed by formation of the government,” the PEC said.

The official, however, showed his ignorance towards sworn statements on poll rigging given by dozens of presiding officers and their deputies from Tharparkar at Karachi Press Club last week.

Assistant Election Commissioner Muhammad Najeeb Khan came up with the same answers to question on the alleged poll rigging and referred to Islamabad for any punitive action against those found guilty. “We are just watching the high court hearings on petitions regarding poll rigging and would report the given verdicts back to Islamabad,” Najeeb said when queried on existing activities of his office.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:2/28/2008