PPP, PML-N trade blame
\nElectoral authority directs authorities to conduct forensic, arrest suspects for allegedly bribing voters
\nnews desk
\nislamabad
\nThe Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of a viral video purportedly showing that voters in Lahore\u2019s NA-133 constituency were being given bribe ahead of the by-polls.
\nThe by-elections in the constituency, which has been devoid of representation in the National Assembly after the demise of PML-N Lahore chapter\u2019s central leader Pervez Malik, are scheduled to be held on December 5.
\nOn Sunday, the returning officer sent a notice to the Lahore commissioner and the Punjab police chief, seeking their help in identifying the individuals in the video.
\nThe notice was also served to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman, wherein the ECP directed the authorities concerned to submit the inquiry report by November 30.
\nThe ECP has directed the authorities concerned to conduct forensic of the viral footage, ascertain the identity and collect complete bio data of the suspects.
\nIt also directed the officials to identify the place where money was allegedly being distributed to buy votes.
\nThe leaked video triggered a war of words between the two opposition parties with PML-N accusing PPP of buying loyalties of their voters.
\n\u201cPPP should stop luring people ahead of the by-elections which they cannot win,\u201d PML-N leader Ali Pervaiz Malik said in a tweet.
\nPPP central Punjab\u2019s general secretary Syed Hasan Murtaza hit back at PML-N, saying \u201cthe PML-N is paying respect to money instead of vote in NA-133 elections\u201d.
\nHe added that his party will compete with PML-N in the by-poll through \u201cits ideology instead of using money\u201d.
\nRuling PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhary in a tweet said that the dubious video has \u201cexposed the true face of the PML-N\u201d.
\n\u201cThis is why they [PML-N] are against EVMs (electronic voting machines),\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PPP, PML-N trade blame Electoral authority directs authorities to conduct forensic, arrest suspects for allegedly bribing voters news desk islamabad The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of a viral video purportedly showing that voters in Lahore\u2019s NA-133 constituency were being given bribe ahead of the by-polls. The by-elections in the constituency, which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[39,208,362,364,979],"class_list":{"0":"post-229839","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-ecp","9":"tag-inquiry","10":"tag-pmln","11":"tag-ppp","12":"tag-vote-buying"},"yoast_head":"\n