ECP meets today to decide on Daska by-poll irregularities.

Byline: Iftikhar A. Khan

ISLAMABAD -- The Election ComAmission of Pakistan (ECP) will meet on Tuesday (today) to decide on alleged 'disappearance' of about two dozen presiding officers and suspected tampering of NA-75 Daska by-election results.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja will preside over the meeting which will be attended by all the four members and senior officials of the ECP.

Sources told Dawn that the district returning officer (DRO) will appear before the ECP and submit his report. In the light of DRO's findings, the commission will decide whether to announce the unconfirmed and unofficial results or not. The other options to be considered are re-polling at 20 polling stations, where the results are suspected to have been tampered with, or fresh polls in the entire constituency.

The sources said the ECP would also take a decision on the matter pertaining to clashes between the workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the constituency. The commission had directed the inspector general of police (of Punjab) to take action against all those responsible and submit a report to it by February 22.

Commission consults political parties on code of conduct for Senate elections

The sources said the IGP had not submitted the report. Now the ECP will also decide if there was a need to hold an inquiry or pass direct orders.

Meanwhile, the ECP on Monday consulted the political parties on the code of conduct for the Senate elections.

Talking to reporters, PML-N vice president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked the ECP to hold 'live' investigation and hearing...