While admitting the complain of Mushtaq Talpur, an independent candidate in by-election of PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has called Ms Waheeda Shah, Pakistan People's Party's candidate, on March 6, 2012, for the hearing.
Reliable sources inside the office of Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC) told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that Mushtaq Talpur has submitted complaint at ECP in which he stated that Waheeda Shah, Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, District officers and others made rigging in by-election held on February 25, 2012.
ECP admitted said complain for hearing and issued notice to Waheeda Shah to appear in hearing would be held at the office of ECP Islamabad on March 06, 2012, sources told. ECP called not only Waheeda Shah, but also other nine candidates contested the by-lection including Sarfaraz Ahmed Bhatti, Irshad Hussein Shah, Aijaz Hussein Shah, Amir Zardari, Fazal Nizamani, Saleem Samro, Mir Khalid Hussein Talpur, Mir Lutuf Ali Talpur and Niaz Almani, sources added.
The officials of ECP would register the statements of all candidates including the complainant Mushtaq Talpur on March 06, 2012. Later, the ECP would take decision about the fate of Talpur's complain of rigging in the light of recorded statements, they told.
When contacted, Sindh's PEC Sono Khan Baloch has made it confirm and further said that ECP is looking into the matter of by-election of PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan very seriously. He said that not only this, but also District Returning Officer has been called Waheeda Shah on March 03, 2012, at the office of PEC Karachi, where her statement would also be recorded over the matter of slapping the female Assistant Polling Officer (APO).
On the other hand, he said that Supreme Court of Pakistan has also took the suo moto notice of Waheeda Shah's slapping issue so lets see what will happen in this regard. In this regard, District Returning Officer Ali Asghar Siyal told that he has issued notices to Waheeda Shah and other candidates of by-election and the victimized female APO to appear on March 03, 2012, at the office of PEC Karachi.
He said that DSP Tando Mohammad Khan Syed Irfan Shah, who was present on the occasion when Waheeda Shah slapped the female APO, has also been called by me on same day. He said that he will register the statements of all people over the matter of slapping and will send the final report to the office of ECP Islamabad very soon. Business Recorder also contacted Ms Waheeda Shah but she refused to furnish her version and said that her lawyer is studying all the notices.