The female Presiding Officer Habiba Memon and Assistant Presiding Officer Shagufta Memon, both came to record their statements in supervision of Waheeda Shah's personal staff, have pardoned the PPP's lady candidate for slapping them during the polling day.
This was disclosed here on Saturday when both female officers came at the office of Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC) and submitted statements in written mentioning that they have pardoned Waheeda Shah because she had came at their homes for seeking apology.
Waheeda Shah, Pakistan Peoples Party's candidate in by-election of PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan-cum-Hyderabad had slapped both female polling officers on February 25. After the submission of written statement, Habiba Memon told media that Waheeda Shah had slapped me and one other female officer mistakenly. Later, she came at my home with her family members and sought apology over the mishandling.
Ms Memon said she and Shagufta submitted written statements in which it was stated that "we both have pardoned Waheeda Shah because she had slapped mistakenly and while realising the mistake, as she came at our homes to seek the apology." Dressed in black Burqa Habiba Memon was accompanied by her one sister and two brothers. She is working as a Higher Secondary Teacher (HST) at Government Girls High School Tando Mohammad Khan.
Talking to Business Recorder, Siraj Ahmed, brother of Habiba Memon, said, "There is no pressure upon us by Waheeda Shah for pardoning her and nor we have received any benefits in return of granting pardon." He said, "Waheeda Shah came at our home with her son Shahnawaz and her cousin Sajjad Shah on the same day and asked us to pardon off over the matter of mishandling."
On the other hand, Assistant Presiding Officer Shagufta Memon left the office of Provincial Election Commissioner without talking to media over the issue. Dressed in black Burqa Shagufta Memon, accompanied by her brother, also came and left the office of Provincial Election Commissioner in the supervision of personal staff of Waheeda Shah.
Earlier, District Returning Officer (DRO) Ali Asghar Siyal had received the statements of five female officers, posted at controversial polling station including Habiba Memon, Shagufta Memon, Sara Soomro, Zuhra Soomro and Sajida. Sources present during the statements told this scribe that Sara Soomro, Zuhra Soomro and Sajida said in their separate statements that they were not available at the polling spot when the incident was occurred.
"On the other hand, Waheeda Shah could not present before DRO, she sent her lawyer who requested the DRO to submit Waheeda Shah's written statement but the officer refused to accept it and asked him that Waheeda Shah should come on March 5, (tomorrow) for furnishing the statement," sources said. While, DRO Siyal recorded the statements of other candidates including Sarfaraz Bhatti, Irshad Shah, Aijaz Shah, Amir Zardari, Fazal Nizamani, Khalid Hussein Talpur and Mushtaq Talpur.
On the occasion, Mushtaq Talpur told the media that he had submitted statement which was the property of EC so he would not tell media that what he said before the DRO. While, Irshad Shah, Khalid Hussein Talpur Fazal Nizamani and Amir Zardrai told media that they were not present on the occasion when slapping issue was held but they had witnessed rigging on many polling stations managed by the supporters of Waheeda Shah.
Three more candidates including Saleem Samro, Lutuf Ali Talpur and Niaz Almani could not come, so DRO issued notices to them for next hearing on March 5 (tomorrow), sources said. DSP Tando Mohammad Khan Syed Irfan Shah has also recorded his statement in which he said that he was guessing that females who had been slapped by Waheeda Shah were the agents of other candidates that's why he had not taken immediate action, sources said.
Some members of personal staff of Waheeda Shah were remained present in the premises of office of Provincial Election Commissioner. They were observing each and every movement of candidates and officials as well, observed by this scribe. One of them talked with Business Recorder on condition of keeping his name in secret, alleging that "only media has disturbed our BB Waheeda Shah otherwise it was not a big problem for us."
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