MULTAN
Accusing the political staff of partiality, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi blamed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for rigging in the by-election of PP-217 constituency. The former foreign minister said that there was no polling staff at one place where our polling agent was seated outside and their agent was seated inside. We informed the Election Commission.
“So far I have found the police arrangements to be excellent, the weather is better in Multan and voters are coming out. Appealing to the voters, they should go to the polling stations,” he said.
He said that Tehreek-e-Insaf has given a good fight, Imran Khan has conducted a vigorous election campaign in 14 districts and PTI workers are very active.
Tehreek-e-Insaf is stubborn compared to the government. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PTI is satisfied with the trend of the voters and has always tried not to act falsely till now polling is going on peacefully. He further said that there should be an inquiry into the use of government resources in Maryam Nawaz’s rally.
Vice Chairman PTI said that there has been a change in the political situation in Punjab. He further said that the Central Govt will also be affected by the change in Punjab.
Meanwhile, Shah Mehmood Qureshi reached a private factory on Vehari Road along with the PTI workers and blamed that there was a fake polling station inside the factory. He repeatedly slammed the gate of the factory. “Open the door! You are stamping ballot papers inside,” he shouted. “Where is the returning officer? Can’t he see that?” he questioned.
“If you do not let me in, at least show the TV channel the situation inside,” Qureshi said to the factory workers. He was prevented from entering the polling station of Basti Dogran by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers.
As Mr. Qureshi reached the polling station Basti Dogran, the PML-N workers surrounded the PTI leader and averted him from entering the polling station. Soon, a heavy contingent of police reached the spot. On the other hand, the factory owner rejected the allegations of Shah Mehmood Qureshi and stated that there was no polling station inside their factory. Factory owner Zulfiqar Chaudhry said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi came to the factory with armed guards. “A clash could have occurred in the factory if we opened the gate,” he added.
The factory management said that they were going to submit a complaint to the district returning officer. Furthermore, the Returning Officer took notice of an issue of manual voting at the polling station in PP-217. He questioned the Presiding Officer in this regard.
The Returning Officer also inquired from the voters present at the polling station, while the Presiding Officer and voters denied the allegation of forced voting. The Returning Officer also spoke to the former Minister, however Shah Mahmoud Qureshi also expressed satisfaction over the polling process.
