PHOTO: EXPRESS
PTI central region Punjab President Mansoor Sarwar Khan submitted through counsel Hamid Khan on Monday a statement in the apex court, claiming that the ECP had mala-fide intentions in restraining parliamentarians from running election campaign.
Read: NA-122 by-election: Imran warns ruling party against rigging
The party insisted that the notification for the ban on campaigning was aimed at Imran Khan since he is the only MNA who does not hold any official position and therefore could run an election campaign.
The statement, however, endorsed the Lahore High Court’s order and subsequent ECP notification on May 7, barring MNAs and MPAs from entering constituencies at the time of polling.
Read: ECP was involved in rigging 2013 general elections: Imran Khan
According to Sarwar Khan, preventing the PTI chief from campaigning in the constituencies was a violation of Article 15, 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution and therefore, the notification is liable to be struck down.
Earlier on Monday, Imran said the party is investigating the number of PTI votes 'thrown out' of the NA-122 by-election.
The party chief, emphasising on the number of votes thrown out of NA-122 at the last minute, said the party would approach the Election Commission of Pakistan once the investigation is complete.
We are investigating the number of PTI votes thrown out of NA122 at the last minute & will then approach the ECP.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 12, 2015
In a series of tweets, Imran Khan also congratulated Shoaib Siddiqui for defeating PML-N's Mohsin Latif in PP-147 constituency and said that this was a moral victory for PTI.
Read: Thin margin victory: PML-N reclaims NA-122
"Congratulations go to Aleem Khan for an epic fight against Punjab and Fed govts; and to Shoaib Siddiqui for winning PP 147," he tweeted.
Congratulations go to Aleem Khan for an epic fight against Punjab & Fed govts; & to Shoaib Siddiqui for winning PP 147.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 12, 2015
This is a moral victory for PTI - successfully challenging PMLN with its govt power & provincial EC. This election will strengthen PTI. 1/2
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 12, 2015
Further, Imran assured that the party would learn from its mistakes to counter the rigging in elections.
2/2 We will learn from our mistakes & counter those rigging tactics by PMLN that we were not prepared for again.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 12, 2015
Read: Disgruntled members to take PTI to US courts
Earlier, Abdul Aleem Khan of PTI contesting in NA-122 said “This is our main concern. We wrote to the election commission this morning. Our committee will sit and review evidence from the 2013 general elections and today’s by-election.
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