The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce today (Wednesday) its verdict regarding the torture of its woman polling officers by Waheeda Shah, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate in bye-polls on PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan. On Tuesday, the ECP reserved the verdict conducting hearing on the charges of rigging and slapping of female polling officers by Waheeda Shah that led to withholding of election results of the constituency.
"The commission would give its decision today (Wednesday) at 2:00 pm," said Director General ECP Mohammad Afzal Khan while talking to a group of reporters. He said notices have been issued to the parties. Waheeda Shah, who did not appear before the Commission, tendered an apology through her lawyer Mustafa Safavi during the course of the hearing for thrashing female polling officers on the polling day on February 25.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, which was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner former justice Hamid Ali Mirza, the counsel for Waheeda Shah said that all the charges against his client were based on misunderstanding. He argued that the case was being heard by Supreme Court and it could not be heard at a time at two forums.
Mushtaq Talpur, an independent candidate in the bye-election on the same constituency, pleaded through his lawyer Nimatullah to the commission to annul the results of the PS-53 owing to rigging and use of government machinery. Talpur's counsel levelled 19 allegation against Waheeda Shah. He alleged that Waheeda Shah along with federal ministers visited various poling stations on the polling day on February 25 and stuffed ballot boxes with fake votes after forcing out the polling agents of other candidates.
On the directives of the ECP, an FIR has already been lodged against Waheeda Shah under section 86 (3)(b) of the Representation of People Act, 1976 at Police Station, Tando Mohammad Khan. According to ECP sources if convicted in any case, Waheeda Shah could face disqualification for five years and she would not be able to contest any election for next five years.
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