Alleged rigging: PTI to lodge criminal case against ROs

Imran says he will reveal evidence of rigging on Nov 28

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has vowed to lodge criminal cases under Article 6 of the Constitution against Returning Officers (ROs) allegedly involved in rigging in the 2013 elections.

He expressed these views outside Punjab office of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after appearing before Election Tribunal Lahore, headed by Justice Kazim Ali Malik.

Earlier, the PTI chief filed an application before Election Tribunal seeking his exemption from appearing before it regarding an election petition pending before it in connection with alleged rigging at NA-122.



He said the PTI is going to hold a rally in Islamabad on November 30 due to which it is not possible for him to appear before the tribunal. He requested the judge to exempt him from appearing in person. The judge after hearing the plea, allowed him exemption from November 29 hearing.

Meanwhile, another application was moved by the PTI chief before the tribunal requesting the judge not to link decisions of petitions about alleged rigging in NA-122 and PP-147 of Lahore.

The tribunal member Malik on Tuesday had reserved verdict on a petition of the PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqui, who challenged victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s Mohsin Latif at PP-147.

The tribunal, however, linked the announcement of the verdict with the decision of a pending petition of Imran Khan against the victory of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122, Lahore.

Talking to the media, Imran Khan announced that he will present proofs of the alleged rigging in the 2013 general election. “I will produce all proofs of the rigging at a press conference on Friday (tomorrow),” he said.

“If I was in place of Nawaz Sharif, I would order recount and audit of whole election record,” the PTI chief claimed.

Later in the evening, the PTI chief said the November 30 rally would definitely take place, come what may. “Do whatever you want to. I am here and people would come,” he added. Imran also clarified that though the rally is going to be decisive, it would not end the movement rather it would take it forward.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2014.