General elections: Imran likens former CJP with Indian umpire
Accuses Justice Chaudhry of being complicit in vote ‘rigging’.
PTI chairperson Imran Khan at the book launch. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan accused former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry of ‘refusing’ to audit votes in four constituencies where rigging was suspected during the general elections in May.
Khan compared the former CJP to an Indian umpire who refused to consider his appeal against an Indian batsman during a cricket match allegedly ‘in order to secure a win for his team’.
Speaking at the launch of ‘Yes, this is the truth’ by PTI office-bearer Brig (Retd) Muhammad Aslam Ghuman on Thursday, Khan asked, “How can it be possible for lawmakers who come to the assembly through rigged elections to remove corruption from society and from among their ranks?”
He accused the prime minister of securing 8,000 votes in a constituency where 1,500 voters were registered. “If I were in his place, I would put all the polling officials behind bars in this case,” Khan said.
The PTI chief said that until the political elite declared their financial assets, it will be impossible to bring a culture of transparency in the country. He said the party had filed a resolution to this effect in the assembly and had raised the issue here at least six times, to no avail.
Speaking out against the recent ‘gift’ of $1.5 billion to the Pakistan government, Khan said ‘the government received $1.5 billion to fan sectarianism and killings on the basis of faith’. He added, “We hold a begging bowl but are not willing to collect fair taxes and eradicate corruption at the highest levels.”
Khan said that accountability was a ruse for political victimisation, adding that not a single FIR has been registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the PTI-led government accusing it of political victimization. He claimed that the revenue collection from indigenous resources increased three times during the PTI government.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan accused former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry of ‘refusing’ to audit votes in four constituencies where rigging was suspected during the general elections in May.
Khan compared the former CJP to an Indian umpire who refused to consider his appeal against an Indian batsman during a cricket match allegedly ‘in order to secure a win for his team’.
Speaking at the launch of ‘Yes, this is the truth’ by PTI office-bearer Brig (Retd) Muhammad Aslam Ghuman on Thursday, Khan asked, “How can it be possible for lawmakers who come to the assembly through rigged elections to remove corruption from society and from among their ranks?”
He accused the prime minister of securing 8,000 votes in a constituency where 1,500 voters were registered. “If I were in his place, I would put all the polling officials behind bars in this case,” Khan said.
The PTI chief said that until the political elite declared their financial assets, it will be impossible to bring a culture of transparency in the country. He said the party had filed a resolution to this effect in the assembly and had raised the issue here at least six times, to no avail.
Speaking out against the recent ‘gift’ of $1.5 billion to the Pakistan government, Khan said ‘the government received $1.5 billion to fan sectarianism and killings on the basis of faith’. He added, “We hold a begging bowl but are not willing to collect fair taxes and eradicate corruption at the highest levels.”
Khan said that accountability was a ruse for political victimisation, adding that not a single FIR has been registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the PTI-led government accusing it of political victimization. He claimed that the revenue collection from indigenous resources increased three times during the PTI government.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2014.