Photo of a ballot box that went viral on social media.
LAHORE: The returning officer rejected Hamid Khan’s petition regarding rigging done by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Khawaja Saad Rafique who won in NA-125 Lahore, Express News reported on Tuesday.
Hamid Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) alleged that at NA-125, the PML-N candidates and their agents, “in a systematic, deliberate and pre-planned scheme … with the active connivance and support of presiding officers and the police” cast bogus votes and tampered with ballot boxes and ballot papers.
Khan sought a recount of the votes and verification of the counts furnished by the presiding officer.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Saad Rafique had said that the PTI should accept its defeat in the constituency rather than make accusations aimed at casting doubt on the PML-N mandate.
He had further said that if the PTI chief could be defeated in Lahore, it was no surprise that he should defeat Khan.
On Monday, Returning Officer Khalid Mehmood Bhatti issued notice to the PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique (winner at NA-125), for May 14, on the complaint of losing PTI candidate Hamid Khan.
COMMENTS (28)
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PTI should follow the due course of action. Its candidates should file petitions in election tribunals set by ECP for objections of results. If they are not satisfied from there, they can go to courts then.
Imran Khan termed it as "Wicket Down", whenever some politician joined PTI. It meant that other party was failed. So when a petition by PTI's Hamid Khan for recount in NA-125 is rejected by RO on technical grounds, it is a failure for them. So it can be termed as: "Clean Bowled" :)
Who ever u meet in Lahore, More than 70% voted for PTI. But NS win. This election was a Joke! We should rise up and teach a lesson to the Roober who disrespected the whole nation.
This is the same Saad Rafique who's been filmed inside the women's polling booths, yes? Ofcourse, how could he do any wrong.
For your information even Clean Bowled is "NOT OUT" on a "NO BALL" !!! You wont get it It's Cricket not Kabaddi .. ;)
@Eeman: It means ET is enjoying it. (no value judgement intended).
@Kashif Iqbal: Imran was not defeated through fair means. He was winning till Nawaz Sharif announced victory.
PTI lovers, they(ECP and rest) want you to focus just only on 1 seat and that is NA-250, just forget 147 National assembly seat of Punjab. Keep it focused only on Karachi 1 seat.
@Salman, please elaborate how rigging is done in NA-125.
Of course, elections were rigged at NA 125. I was an eye witness to that.
Please remember that countries are run through cricket grounds or social media. It is a very serious bu siness to be handled by mature people. Let us show maturity and move forward.
well media is total biased... dont agree with the RO .... if SC or ECP ordered something then i would accept it and wait for next elections.... coz then we have the proper track record what we would do in KPK and what we have the compentency to bring change in whole country
could'nt have been a better heading PTI the change mongers are really bad losers and this not something new those who are well aware of IKs cricketing years know he only played for Pakistan when he was made captain whenever out of captaincy he was either 'injured' or was in london so no surprises
Imran khan was clean bowled, it was not an LBW...sorry, no third umpire review allowed, IK/PTI's naive supporters, be a sportsman and go back to the pavilion!
How can free and fair elections exist if the people conducting them have a stake in who comes to power?
BTW, I disagree with the headlines. Not clean bowled. Given out by the third umpire after ignoring evidence.
Poor cricket analogy. Its more like an appeal being turned down.
Despicable. No doubt PML-N got the mandate but that doesn't mean they should be excused for what happened in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Neither should MQM be allowed to get away with it.
Hafiz Farhat of PTI in PP 155 Lahore Cantt always remained present in Polling Stations in his constituency. Who will tell ECP about his activities????.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151462154612462&set=a.10151462154407462.1073741835.41641727461&type=3&theater
I think PTI should repect PML-N's mandate ... Guys time to focus on KPK... how to improve situation... how to make it model for rest of pakistan. Last 3 days seems like PML-N planning and PTI making chaos on streets. From 0 to Goverment in KPK and strongest ever oppositon in rest of Pakistan. Time to dig deep and work.... be graceful in defeat. Dont think teh system can be defeated in one election - today you've made your voice heard in Karachi (no one could've ever imgained thats omeone would atleast challenged MQM). Your 1 vote is far more heavier than their thousands of bogus votes... Time will come ... and things will change ..Keep the spirits high.
@Eeman Because ET seems quite happy on denial of PTI petition. Poor mind.
I really do respect Saad Rafique but his accustions of showing maturity and growing up do not make sense...This so called Democracy will only mature and grow up when its participants highlight the wrongs taking place...If you do not, then the same things will happen over and over again...Not one person of Pakistan can say that the elections of Pakistan were free and fair to an acceptable level...
@Eeman: It means media biasedness towards PTI, which includes least coverage of dharna
I hope now PTI kids don't block roads in Lahore. If Imran Khan can be defeated, Hamid Khan is just a random candidate. PML-N zindabad !
What does clean bowled mean here?
Returning Officer on the PML-N payroll. Why is he scared of doing a recount? Because rigging will be exposed?