ISLAMABA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday rejected allegations by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over alleged rigging in the general elections and selective vote recount.
ECP spokesman Altaf Khan, while addressing media, said that elections were held in free, fair and transparent process, and they will not succumb to pressure by any political party.
PML-N leaders Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Maryam Aurangzeb had earlier visited the commission’s head office, and later complained after being unable to meet the Chief Election Commissioner.
The PML-N leaders were disappointed that Abbasi’s plea for votes recount in his hometown constituency in NA-57 Murree was turned down by the Returning Officer forcing him to stay out of parliament.
In this regard the ECP spokesman said that CEC was present in the officer till 5PM but did not receive any visitors. He said the PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain had also met with the ECP secretary earlier today.
He said the Ayaz Sadiq and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi came as election candidates. However, Ayaz Sadiq used derogatory and insolent remarks against the CEC and the institution which was highly unacceptable.
The spokesman said that commission will not be pressurised by such tactics, and the ECP is an independent and empowered institution who has been given such powers by the parliament.
“Speaker (Ayaz Sadiq) said that election commission was given more powers than they deserved. We strongly condemns them. These powers were given to us the Parliament which is the representative of the people of Pakistan,” he said.
He said the free and fair elections were held across the country, and any complaints over Form 45 which provides accumulated election results should be made to the commission and will be duly addressed. He said even foreign observers expressed satisfaction over the polls and they will not succumb to such tactics.
