Invoking jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), petitioners urged the Commission to stop recently held Local Government (LG) election result pronouncement in district Naushahro Feroze of the Sindh till final adjudication of the petitions.
Representing a number of petitioners before the ECP, HSU‘ advocates Sharafat Ali Chaudhry and Umer Sajjad Chaven pointed out violations of the provisions of the Election Act, 2017 and the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 during LG by-polls in various localities of district Naushahro Feroze.
In June 26,2022, LG polls were held in 14 districts of Sindh including Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umarkot and Tharparkar.
Challenging process of the LG polls before the ECP, one of the candidates at the vicinity of Chaheen Taluka Bhiria in district Naushahro Feroze, Barrister Muhammad Obaid Sanwal Rajper made 12 respondents in the matter.
Barrister Rajper alleged before the ECP that during the entire election campaign in UC Chaheen candidates for chairman and vice chairman (Mumtaz Ali and Aziz-ullah respectively) along with their armed goons used deadly weapons on the petitioner and their rally. He submitted that in order to de-escalate any tension in the area the petitioner changed route of rally, while the police remained a silent spectators all at the behest of the ruling parties candidates who are Mumtaz Ali and Aziz-ullah.
Appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners before the ECP Advocates Sharafat Chaudhry and Umer Chaven apprised the Commission over election laws violations in the vicinity saying on the day of election, one list of voters in ladies polling station (GGPS Chaheen Suleman) was unavailable and the polling was closed. Likewise they contended that one of the respondents Presiding Officer, PS 05, GGPS Chaheen Suleman, UC 29, Taluka Bhiria, District Naushahro Feroze also stopped polling activity after an incident of firing which took place at the adjoining premises of polling station.
Advocates Sharafat Ali Chaudhry and Umer Sajjad Chaven urged the ECP to issue directives to the Returning Officer to refrain from pronouncing the election result till final adjudication of the petitions in the matter.
They also prayed the ECP to declare elections to the seat of chairman / vice chairman of Union Council No. 29, (Chaheen), Taluka Bhiria, District Noushahro Feroze, held on June 26, 2022 as illegal and void saying voters may be given opportunity to recast their votes in the manner provided for bye-elections.
