Federal cabinet okays Rangers deployment for Daska by-poll

The federal cabinet has approved the deployment of Rangers for the Daska NA-75 bye-election to be held on April 10, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The federal cabinet approved the summary, moved by the Interior Ministry, through a circulation.

The decision has been taken due to the concerns of the Supreme Court and the political parties. The government has prepared a security plan for the Daska bye-election.

The TV channel reported that SCP also observed on Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had "made a mistake by not having Rangers posted" during the by-elections in the NA-75 (Daska) constituency last month.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial made the remark during the hearing of a petition by PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, challenging the ECP's decision to hold re-polling in the constituency after suspicions that results of certain polling stations were falsified.

It may be recalled that the ECP ruled that a re-election will be held in the entire NA-75 Daska constituency after suspicions that the results may have been falsified.

The ECP, while hearing an application by PML-N candidate Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, declared the by-poll held in the constituency on February 19 as null and void.

A five-member commission, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, announced the decision and ordered that fresh elections be held in Daska on March 18 but later the ECP announced a revised date April 10.

The TV channel reported, the federal cabinet also gave approval to take a loan of 65 million euros from France for Karachi Rapid Bus Transit project. The Economic Affairs Division will sign the agreement with the French Development Agency as the Karachi Rapid project will be completed in collaboration with France.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani