Election tribunal orders opening of ballot bags in NA-122

Move follows PTI chief Imran Khan's statement on Saturday claiming that evidence of rigging was in the ballot bags

An election tribunal issued on Monday a short order calling for the opening of voting bags in NA-122 and PP-147, Express News reported. 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had recorded a statement  at a hearing of the tribunal on Saturday regarding alleged rigging in NA-122 during last year’s general polls.

Imran said during the hearing that the evidence was in the ballot bags. Prior to recording his statement, the PTI chief was summoned by the tribunal on December 6 to present evidence for the allegations regarding rigging.

PTI's Shafqat Mehmood, while speaking to Express News, said "Until the bags are opened, how will we know what the situation is?"

"It is very fortunate that the bags are being opened, and we will now find out what really happened during the elections," Mehmood said.

In response to a question regarding the role of NADRA in the verification process, the PTI MNA said, "We had information that some officials from NADRA had tried to change the records. However, if it functions as a state institution (as opposed to a government institution), we will not have a problem."

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq from the PML-N won the seat from NA-122 last year.