The Daska Verdict.

It would be an understatement to say that the by-elections in Daska (NA-75) were controversial. The widespread allegations of fraud-leading to a case before a five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja-are a troubling indication of the short-term future of politics in Pakistan.

PTI's defence was that the irregularities of 20 polling stations in the constituency did not make it right to say that the final outcome itself should be challenged. PML-N demanded a forensic audit of votes cast in the 20 polling stations whose results are questionable. PPP senior leader and Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani insisted that not only there should re-poll but also those responsible must be punished.

By ordering a repolling, the ECP made the right decision-there were just far too many inconsistencies for the results of the by-election to be completely credible. Presiding officers in the constituency going missing for seven hours is not something to take lightly.

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