Sangat Development Foundation holds meeting at Press Club Mandi Bahauddin

Mandi Bahauddin(Sher Gondal) : Sangat Development Foundation, an NGO working in social sector arranged a meeting of representatives of political parties here at Press Club to seek their views and observation on conduct of LG polls 2015.

Representatives of PPP, PMLN, Mustaqbil Pakistan, Awami Tehrik, PMLQ and other political workers participated in the meeting. District President of the NGO Sharif Zahid was in the chair. Proceedings of the meeting started with recitation of Holy Quran. To start with Sharif Zahid introduced the organization and its mission.

While commenting on LG polls the participants said that there were various violations of electoral procedures, including breach of secrecy of voting, canvassing inside polling stations, and presence of security personnel inside polling stations and incidences of interference by security and election staff.

They said prior to election, polling scheme was not issued; voters of their original wards were transferred to other wards without their information. Wards lists were made available to candidates after receipt of their nomination papers. This led to rejection of nomination papers of many candidates who had to file appeals to higher forums to restore their nomination papers. Delimitation of wards and union councils did not conform to expectation of voters and candidates.  In many cases villages and mohallahs were divided on political basis.

All the participants criticized ECP for lacking tight grip over election staff and polling officers. They also pointed out that polling staff was not trained enough for conducting election and because of this irregularities and illegalities were committed during the process of elections. There was lot of disparity among number of voters of wards and union councils. Some union council had 8000 voters while other has more than 13000 voters.

Result and polling record forms were not given to candidates soon after polling stopped. This amounted to denial to access to information they said. They suggested that ECP should be made stronger to repel influence of rulers. Delimitation of union councils and wards should be done basing on revenue estates and bradries. Polling staff should be appointed from other districts. Polling staff must undergo training before the process of election starts.

Biometric system be introduced to control fake votes. President NGO thanked participants and ensured them that their observations and suggestions would be submitted to ECP for improving next elections.

Prominent among participants were PPP District Secretary Hassan Aslam, District President Awami Tehrik Ch. Azam Gujar and District Secretary Mustaqbil Pakistan Mukhtar Virk