The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that the Punjab government has made the election controversial by appointing arbitrary officers in the by-elections in NA-75 Daska. Daska did not co-operate in the elections. Despite the restrictions, Zulfiqar Work was given the additional responsibility of DSP Daska.
In its written reply to the NA-75 Daska election case filed in the Supreme Court, the Election Commission said that government officials, security agencies, and political representatives violated the code of conduct. In a written reply, the ECP said that the district administration had failed to control the law and order situation. The failure of the district administration led to serious violence on election day. Due to law and order situation, appointments and transfers were banned in Daska. The reply said that despite the restrictions, Zulfiqar Work was given additional responsibility of DSP Daska. DSP Daska Zulfiqar did not appear at the request of the Election Commission.
Mazhar Gondal was handed over to DSP Daska Zulfiqar Work on February 6. Zulfiqar Work was again given the responsibility of Central Circle in-charge Daska. The situation deteriorated during the elections in 40 constituencies, an ECP official said. The Election Commissioner wrote a letter to the IG and Chief Secretary Punjab regarding the killings and firing incidents. In a written reply, it was said that the Punjab government did not cooperate with the Election Commission in the Daska elections after which the Election Commission declared the elections null and void and announced re-election on April 10.
It may be recalled that PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi has challenged the decision to hold re-election in NA-75 Daska in court. The PTI candidate from NA-75 Daska has taken a written stand in the petition that the decision of the Election Commission is a violation of Article 10A. The Election Commission ruled in violation of the rules and regulations. Ali Asjad Malhi in his petition said that the Election Commission has not properly reviewed the available records, there is no justification for re-election in the constituency.
