ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the authorities to arrest the persons who can be seen bribing voters in the leaked clips.
The federal body responsible for organizing elections issued directives to conduct forensic analyses of leaked video clips and arrest the concerned persons, who can be seen dolling cash for getting on-oath pledges from voters to cast votes to their party.
Returning Officer (RO) wrote letters to Deputy Commissioner Lahore, Inspector-General Police (IGP) Punjab, Chairman NADRA, to identify and nab those featured in the clip and take necessary action.
Officials directed Punjab IGP and metropolis administration for a forensic of the video to ascertain when and where it was recorded and demanded a report by Tuesday.
A separate letter was written to the PEMRA chairman to conduct forensic analyses of the clips aired on TV channels.
The alleged clips also sparked a heated debate among contesting candidates. PML-N and PPP leaders on Sunday hurled accusations at each other for bribing voters in the constituency.
Son of Parvez Malik and PML-N leader Ali Pervez Malik accused PPP of buying votes in the constituency and also running a campaign saying all the characters are purportedly wearing masks to hide their faces. He also urged PPP top leadership to take notice of the antics by their party workers.
پیپلز پارٹی ضمنی الیکشن کے لیے عوام کا استحصال بند کرے جو وہ جیت نہیں سکتے۔ 2018 کے عام انتخابات میں 5000 ووٹ… اور اب آپ کے ووٹ میں 10 گنا اضافہ کیوں ہوگا؟ pic.twitter.com/cYsnKB1aSZ
— Ali Pervaiz Malik (@AliPervaiz450) November 28, 2021
On the other side, PPP’s candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam Gill said “buying votes was an old tactic of the PML-N”. He further accused former PM Nawaz Sharif for expensive electioneering in Pakistan.
پارلیمانی لیڈر و جنرل سیکرٹری پیپلزپارٹی وسطی پنجاب سید حسن مرتضی کا ویڈیو بیان
مسلم لیگ ن این اے 133 ضمنی الیکشن میں ووٹ کی بجائے نوٹ کو عزت دلوا رہی ہے٬ حسن مرتضی
ن لیگ چھانگا مانگا کی سیاست سے باز نہیں آ سکتی٬ حسن مرتضی@S_HassanMurtaza pic.twitter.com/d1CieNmvz5
— PPP Punjab (@LidoFiRewards) November 28, 2021
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, whose candidates were disqualified by the ECP, also jumped into the heated debate amid the controversy.
PM’s aide on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill slammed PML-N for reverting to what he called ‘old tactics’ and requested the concerned authorities to take action while Senator Ejaz Chaudhry said that the video clips had exposed the ‘true face’ of the PML-N.
Videos of alleged buying, selling of votes leak ahead of Lahore’s NA-133 by-poll
