The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected allegations of rigging in the recent by-election held in constituency PP-52, Sambrial, Punjab. According to the ECP, the claims made by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are baseless and lack credible evidence.
In an official statement, the Punjab Election Commissioner urged that if anyone has solid proof of misconduct, they should file a formal complaint. He emphasized that the Election Commission will promptly address all complaints. He further clarified that the rumors about polling stations being shut down by the administration are completely false, adding that polling was conducted peacefully across all stations.
Earlier, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza had raised concerns about irregularities during the polling process. He alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers were harassing voters and claimed serious violations at the Matran Wali polling station. He also asserted that the PPP was regaining its strength among the public.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also accused PML-N of election misconduct. He claimed that PML-N workers, allegedly with police support, engaged in violent behavior during the election, raising further questions about the fairness of the process.
On the other hand, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari strongly dismissed these allegations. She claimed that PML-N was winning the Sambrial by-election by a significant margin and that the people of Punjab had full trust in Maryam Nawaz’s leadership. She also remarked that parties receiving only a few hundred votes should not be complaining about rigging.
This situation highlights the ongoing trend in Pakistani politics where elections are often followed by a wave of accusations and denials. However, the Election Commission’s response indicates a firm stance on maintaining transparency and addressing concerns only when backed by evidence.