Imran called upon CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahim to take notice of ‘massive and unprecedented’ rigging in the elections. PHOTO: AFP
“I salute the courage of the people of Karachi who have been held hostage for long by a [political] party. People of Karachi are being held in chains of fear and I urge them to come out and break these shackles,” Imran said in a video message from Shaukat Khanam Hospital in Lahore on Sunday.
He urged other political parties, “who are sick of tyranny”, to join the protest.
Imran also called upon Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim to take notice of ‘massive and unprecedented’ rigging in the elections.
“No democracy can thrive without free and fair elections. Now this is the responsibility of these two men to restore the trust of the people in the sanctity of the ballot,” he added.
PTI supporters have been staging protests in major urban centres, including Lahore and Karachi, against alleged rigging in the elections.
Imran warned that if his party’s concerns were not addressed, the voters who came out to vote for the first time on May 11 would lose their faith in the democratic exercise. “I can say with confidence that the elections were massively rigged,” he added.
He said that his party’s demand for recounting in six National Assembly constituencies is doable. “Recounting with the help of thumbprints will remove our apprehensions. We may lose after the recount but we will accept it and people’s trust in the electoral process will be restored.”
Imran reiterated what his party’s leadership announced at a news briefing earlier in the day: PTI supporters will stage a sit-in outside the Election Commission in Islamabad on May 24 if the party’s demand was not met.
PTI Secretary General in Punjab Dr Yasmeen Rashid has said that Imran would also participate in the sit-in.
Punjab-wide protest on May 21
PTI’s Punjab chapter President Ejaz Chaudhary on Sunday threatened province-wide protests outside all divisional press clubs on May 21 if the party’s demand for recounting was ignored.
“The PTI has given the ECP three days for recounting but the commission paid no heed. This step is extremely important to establish the fairness and credibility of the elections,” Chaudhary said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Ali: So, you accept MQM is not a political party. Its a Mafia and if you speak and stand against them, They will Kill you. Thats called Slavery. .
My PTI fellows, dont get too excited. This so called win at NA 250 will never hold. It will be challenged on the streets as well as at the courts and in near future you will hear of repolling ordered at the whole constituency.
In any case, the hook and the crook means used by PTI, including the backing of the khakis, have already blown the balloon of insaf and justice that you were blowing. As has been said elswhere in the comments, you have managed to illegitimize your birth with your own hands.
PTI is not PPP, PMLN that will remain quiet upon rigging and killings against them. These protests are working. So far 4 seats have been allocated back to PTI because of repolling/recounting. 1 NA 250, 2 PS seats of Karachi and one PP seat which was taken back from Chaudry Nisar. Way to go PTI, signs of Naya Pakistan.
@Muhajir: And all of your mummy daddy are there.
@Historian 1: PTI is the party of educated class. Confirmed. it is nothing more than mummy daddy party, lol
Get a life Kaptaan! Now you got NA 250. Please move on for next 5 years. Maybe your time will come in 5 years. For now, your tsunami can lead government in KPK.
Imran Khan, please dont act stupid!! do not put blame unless it proven!! 2ndly this protest today is an immature call from Imran khan! - I voted for PTI but this protest call is stupid!! MQM is in Karachi, like PML in Punjab & PPP in Sindh....yes PTI would have won alot more seats from Pakistan but the problem is not only in Karachi...!!!!! PLEASE DO NOT GET YOUR SIMPLE PTI SUPPORTERS KILLED...there is always a chance of 3rd party taking advantage.....If any one is to be blamed its the election commission & the army & the care taker government!!! everyone!!!!
PTI is the party of educated class. Confirmed.
IK.......We know what is tyranny & we have, so far, been taking it lying down.They will also come to know what is the "tyranny of the weak".We stand behind you !!!!
We love and support Imran Khan. MQM your time has come you shall be eliminated by people of Karachi.