Provincial Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan on Monday rubbished the rigging allegations in the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions due to delay in results, saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had a "strict monitoring" mechanism to ensure free and fair elections. The results of the much-delayed local body election's second phase in Sindh could not be finalised even past noon on the day after polls, which gave rise to claims of “rigging" and results being engineered in Karachi.

Speaking to media in the metropolis, Chohan said that holding LG polls is a big exercise and has its own challenges. However, the electoral body fulfilled its duty efficiently, he said. The provincial election commissioner said that the preparation of Form 11 was the first thing to be done after the conclusion of polling on Sunday. He explained the entire process of preparing results, saying that one returning officer (RO) has to make results of five to six union councils (UC).

He said that there are around 25 constituencies in a UC and the RO has to make Form 11 and 12 for each of the constituencies. Chohan further stated that a presiding officer has to make five separate forms for four categories for a single polling station, and then these forms are sent to the ROs. "All 11 and 12 forms were handed over to the ROs in Karachi by 11am today," he said. Responding to the claims of rigging, Chohan clarified that ECP had a very strict monitoring mechanism and he can confidently say that no official was involved in rigging. He asked the political parties to trust that the "ECP is aware of its constitutional responsibility and is serious in holding free and fair elections".

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP