Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said on Sunday that the by-election in all constituencies remained peaceful and that the commission took action without discrimination against those who violated the code of conduct.
He told the media that several factors cause low turnout, adding that this election did not alter the number game, which reduced public interest. He added that turnout in by-elections always remained low.
Raja said that no extraordinary complaints reached the electoral watchdog during the day. He added that some district returning officers sent reports and the ECP took notice of some complaints on its own. He expressed gratitude to the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that, during local government elections, the ECP disqualified a minister and a candidate for violation of the code of conduct. The ECP CEC said that every matter followed a legal scheme and that violations occur in elections across the world.
Raja said that Talal Chaudhry received a summons for tomorrow and that the hearing would take place. He added that the ECP had no authority to issue instructions to a tribunal.
