Getting back snatched mandate is first priority, says Imran Khan
If rigging is proven, the accused should be punished, and if not, we will tender apology for the recount, says Khan.
PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan said on Thursday that the constitutional battle to get back the "snatched mandate" is his first priority or else, he will continue with his protests.
Claiming that the reasons behind the protest would be to protect democracy, he said, "We want justice from supreme judiciary. It should order recounting in four constituencies on the basis of finger prints. If rigging is proved, the accused should be punished and if not we would tender apology for this demand.”
Khan was addressing the party office-bearers and workers at NA-122, from where he contested the general elections and lost the seat to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ayaz Saddiq with a small margin.
The PTI chairperson said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had ordered re-counting of votes in NA-122 but Saddiq had gotten a stay order on the decision.
"I asked him what made him hide behind this stay order. If he trusted his votes, he should have allowed recounting," said the PTI chairperson.
Earlier, PTI had presented a 2500-page white paper to the Supreme Court which it claimed contained evidence of rigging during the general elections.
"The rigging masters did an excellent job in casting 8,000 votes in one polling station where registered voters were only 1,500," said Khan.
He added that during the by-elections 27 counterfeited bags were found but even then, the decision declaring the PML-N candidate successful was allowed to stand.
The PTI chairperson said that he had requested the Supreme Court to do justice without constituting election tribunals as that would only prolong the issue.
Criticising the PML-N government for deviating from its promises made before the elections, he said that if the government recovered even a single looted dollar, he "would personally shake hands with the PML-N leadership in the best interest of the country".
Talking about a scuffle between PTI workers and media persons that occurred during a PTI protest in Mall Road, he said that it was an unfortunate event and apologised to the media.
Other PTI leaders present during the address included Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry and General Secretary Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan said on Thursday that the constitutional battle to get back the "snatched mandate" is his first priority or else, he will continue with his protests.
Claiming that the reasons behind the protest would be to protect democracy, he said, "We want justice from supreme judiciary. It should order recounting in four constituencies on the basis of finger prints. If rigging is proved, the accused should be punished and if not we would tender apology for this demand.”
Khan was addressing the party office-bearers and workers at NA-122, from where he contested the general elections and lost the seat to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ayaz Saddiq with a small margin.
The PTI chairperson said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had ordered re-counting of votes in NA-122 but Saddiq had gotten a stay order on the decision.
"I asked him what made him hide behind this stay order. If he trusted his votes, he should have allowed recounting," said the PTI chairperson.
Earlier, PTI had presented a 2500-page white paper to the Supreme Court which it claimed contained evidence of rigging during the general elections.
"The rigging masters did an excellent job in casting 8,000 votes in one polling station where registered voters were only 1,500," said Khan.
He added that during the by-elections 27 counterfeited bags were found but even then, the decision declaring the PML-N candidate successful was allowed to stand.
The PTI chairperson said that he had requested the Supreme Court to do justice without constituting election tribunals as that would only prolong the issue.
Criticising the PML-N government for deviating from its promises made before the elections, he said that if the government recovered even a single looted dollar, he "would personally shake hands with the PML-N leadership in the best interest of the country".
Talking about a scuffle between PTI workers and media persons that occurred during a PTI protest in Mall Road, he said that it was an unfortunate event and apologised to the media.
Other PTI leaders present during the address included Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry and General Secretary Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid.