Peshawar: A report sent by the District Returning Officer in Peshawar has declared null and void polling on 26 polling stations during the local bodies’ elections held on Saturday.
In the report compiled from complaints by Returning Officers and forwarded to the Chief Secretary, it has also been officially acknowledged that fake ballot papers and stamps were used during the polls.
The report says that unsatisfactory security arrangements were put in place on polling day.
Several polling staff members were assigned duties at multiple locations at the same time, while some deceased and retired government employees had also been made presiding officers.
The seals of ballot boxes were broken and boxes stuffed with bogus votes at several polling stations, says the report.
It claims that the Elections Commission assigned duties to personnel without consultation with the Education department.
At several polling stations, ballot papers and election material either reached late or was less than required.
Taking notice, Peshawar District Returning Officer Riaz Khan Mehsud has written to the chief secretary, declaring polling void at 26 stations and demanding re-polling on the constituencies.
Mehsud said that 107 people including 4 policemen and polling staff have been arrested for rioting and violating election laws. He said that complaints were also being received from the public based on which polling on further stations may be declared null and void.
