PML-N, PPP cry foul over PTI polls

Marriyum CEC to take notice of the ‘controversial’ elections; PPP labels polls as 'rigged'

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday cast aspersions on the intra-party elections conducted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), branding Barrister Gohar Khan's election as the new chairman as a "selection, not an election."

During a press conference held in Rawalpindi, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb strongly criticised the hasty process, saying, "Once again, PTI has engaged in a selection process completed within a mere 15 minutes."

Aurangzeb questioned the unanimous election of all candidates without any opposition, raising concerns about the secretive nature of PTI's intra-party elections.

Alleging the elections to be counterfeit, she accused Imran Khan, Aleema Khan, and Bushra Bibi of orchestrating rigged elections. “Even the members of the PTI rejected the elections.”

Calling upon the chief election commissioner to take notice, she highlighted the stark contrast between PML-N's parliamentary board meeting – which held its inaugural meeting – and PTI's abrupt announcement of intra-party elections via a press release.

Aurangzeb said people lost jobs and endured the consequences of the 15-minute elections.

However, she claimed any action taken by the election commissioner would trolling from PTI loyalists.

Read also: Nawaz should do away with perception of him being 'favourite'

Addressing the violence on May 9, Aurangzeb attributed the incident to a nefarious "mafia", asserting that such actions were orchestrated by a group "who have nothing to do with electoral processes in the country".

Accusing PTI of instigating unrest, Aurangzeb said the sole agenda of PTI seems to be sowing discord and chaos within the country.

Echoing PML-N's concerns, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) also urged the ECP to intervene.

PPP spokesman Faisal Karim Kundi alleged extensive rigging within PTI's intra-party elections, urging the commission to address the issue."

Taking a swipe at PTI, Kundi remarked on the party's inability to identify suitable candidates internally. He criticised the repeated recurrence of rigging allegations, stating, "Even within PTI's intra-party elections, PTI members themselves are labelling it as rigged."

Questioning the eligibility of certain candidates, Kundi pondered, "Can a fugitive person contest an election and emerge victorious?"