Waheeda Shah has tendered an unconditional apology to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), saying that "slapping incident was happened due to a misunderstanding". Waheeda Shah, Pakistan Peoples Party's candidate in by-election of PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan-cum-Hyderabad, had slapped Presiding Officer Habiba Memon and Assistant Presiding Officer Shagufta Memon during the polling on February 25.
Ms Shah already tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on March 2, but the SCP had rejected her apology. Sources present during the hearing told Business Recorder that Waheeda Shah had apologised to the ECP during her appearance before the District Returning Officer (DRO) Ali Asghar Siyal here at committee room of the office of Provincial Election Commissioner.
"Waheda Shah, dressed in black Burqa stated that the incident happened due to misunderstanding because there was no particular identification of polling staff," sources quoted her as saying. She stated that due to their mistaken identities she thought that both women were the agents of rival candidates and she assaulted them. After the incident, she added that she went to the homes of both female polling officers and expressed her apologies. Both had accepted her apologies, according to her.
After hearing, Waheeda Shah left the PEC Office. On the occasion, Mustafa Safvi, Waheeda Shah's counsel, told media that Ms Shah was defending cases and inquiries with legal way and she had recorded her statement before the DRO, which could not be disclosed.
Mustafa parried the question whether Waheeda Shah had submitted an apology to the Election Commission. Waheeda Shah immediately, sources said. "Waheeda Shah who had to appear at 12:30 pm but she came at 1:25 pm at the office of PEC. She was accompanied by two more Burqa-Posh ladies". Both Presiding Officer Habiba Memon and Assistant Presiding Officer Shagufta Memon had pardoned Waheeda Shah in their statements recorded on March 3.
Sources inside ECP Office further said that DRO Ali Asghar Siyal would compile the report and submit it to the ECP Chief within 24 hours. It is pertinent to mention here that Waheeda Shah has to appear before the officials of ECP Islamabad on March 6 (today), in the hearing of an inquiry conducted on the complaint of her rival Mir Mushtaq Talpur. Mushtaq Talpur has accused Waheeda Shah, Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, District Officers and others of rigging by-election held on February 25.
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