“If you are going to launch a rally against rigging, bring evidence," says Khawaja Saad Rafique. Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Taking a page out of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's book, the government seems to have put forward its own set of rigging allegations on seats that Imran Khan's party had won in the 2013 General Elections.
During the National Assembly session on Thursday, Minister for Railways Khawja Saad Rafique offered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is adamant to hold a protest rally on May 11 against rigging in the 2013 polls, to verify four constituencies of their choice to settle the dispute.
“I urge PTI not to go for the protest rally and instead make one offer: Constitute a parliamentary fact-finding committee before which both the government and the PTI can submit evidence of rigging in elections in four constituencies each,” said Rafique while addressing the assembly.
The PTI had already asked for verification of votes and if that is the case then we also ask for verification of votes in four constituencies, said Rafique.
Those constituencies include include NA-56 –Rawalpindi won by PTI chairman Imran Khan defeating Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Candidate Haneef Abbasi; NA-55 –Rawalpindi won by Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of Awami Muslim League (AML); NA 126 Lahore—won by Shafqat Mehmood of PTI and the constituency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Parvez Khattak.
“If you are going to launch a rally against rigging, bring evidence. And in case your ulterior motives are other than this, we do not have a solution to that,” Rafique added.
He also questioned the logic behind the protest rally, saying “you could have brought election reforms in this house instead of protesting.”
The government has allowed PTI to hold the rally in Islamabad.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured the PTI that the government had no objection to the PTI holding a “peaceful rally” in Islamabad.
“The PTI will not only have permission to hold the rally, but the Islamabad administration will also facilitate it,” he added.
Nisar said that we have no doubt on the statement of Imran Khan that the rally would be peaceful, and it was his party’s democratic right to protest.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan clarified that his party did not want to derail the democratic system as it was being perceived.
“What we are asking for is a transparent system which would strengthen the system," he said.
Khan urged the government to permit PTI to hold the rally in Islamabad as it was his party’s democratic right to have peaceful protests.
COMMENTS (48)
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Dr T Qadri has been right all these years when he had spoken about the reforms needed for EC in Dec last year without which no free, fair & transparent election is possible in Pakistan....today he stands vindicated & most of the talk show anchors & guests who were then against Dt TQ agrees TODAY....what a country & intellectuals we have..? we have proved more than once that we are an emotional bunch & wakes up only when water passes under the bridge....this is the reason we are in mess TODAY.....
So Mr Rafique is also hinting that the elections were not fair. He is only proving the point that the PTI is ranting about in the first place.
Consider PML-N is doing great and PTI has failed badly in KPK, then shall we forget rigging which all of us witness ourselves ??
It didn't take long before Imran Khan accepted the offer and offered NA-56 for verification. What next Mr. Saad Rafique and N-league?
Fair stand by PTI being convoluted by PML-N and co; the news channels have more to report. Lets see what good this brings to the electoral process. That should be the end game for PTI
@Ali: People like Retired Justice Iftekhar Choudhury were running the judiciary circus or show. What else do you expect? Although I don't agree with Military rule at all but the four things that Musharraf stood against are making more sense each passing day:
1) Lal Masjid Operation 2) Asking Iftehkhar Choudhury to retire 3) Kicking out BB & Mian Sahib 4) Operation against Bugti
Too bad he lost the plot along the way and we are in such a big mess now.
Tsunami Khan is quite expert in taking U Turns. He is the most selfish and immature politician. He is only concerned with why he is not Prime Minister of Pakistan.
If PTI wins, there is no rigging. If PTI loses, there is rigging. This is the dirty politics of PTI.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan PTI MNA from NA53 was suspended for nine months on fake degree charges before the courts ruled in his favor. I would like the govt to give an explanation to his constituents as to why they were deprived of their representation in parliament for solong. was Ghulam Sarwar and NA53 punished for rejecting Chaudhry Nisar?
What happened to the same kind of offer by Chaudary Nisar Ali Khan on the floor of the house where he said that they are ready 40 constituencies instead of 4. No progress at all on that, just another drama from PML-N to gain time..
"Chore key Dharee mein Tinka" Kh. Saad is the most vulnerable culprit in this case. If you have objection why didnt you go to election commission? PTI asked this from election commission and IK asked in his very first speech in NA where Ch. Nisar offerred 60 constituencies, but nothing happened. Instead Chief of NADRA was fired when he started verification of Mr. Speaker constituency. Then Mr. Speaker took stay order against verification in his constituency. If you guys are honest then why stay order.
Way to go Saad
Khawaja Saad Rafiq being Minister of Railways comments are a bit annoying. He should take good care of Railways which is getting worse to worst.
So be it .. if rigging is proved in 8 constituencies, 4 N and 4 PTI., this in itself would call for fresh polls.
one Khawaja accepted the fact that election of 2013 was rigged..
@Adnan Siddiqi:
Great Bluff stunt by you! IK has already offered this and it is still valid.
@Paki Boy: @Saud:
This is just a ploy. PTI accepted this offer about 7-8 months ago when made by Ch. Nisar in the Assembly, but nothing happened. As always, PMLN sticks to bluffs and deceit to temporarily diffuse the situation, without realizing that this is no solution.
This is madness. A ridiculous point is made by Saad Rafique. What this means is that whenever anybody complain to this Govt. of PMLN, they will try to barter. Come on please. You are not there in the parliament to satisfy each other. You have to satisfy the justice and people of Pakistan.
You are Govt. You can not complain, You have to solve the complain of others. If you got 4 constituencies and you got doubts go ahead and do whatever the course of law should be done.. Spend time with election commission and courts for a year or so and then come back to D Chok..
But there is no point to give and take. This is not the solution of PTI demand of rigging investigation. It is just a political stunt which is very common in Asia.
well rejected politics can just go on the roads, create panic and will U Turn and will say PM is doing a great job. IK should be rather a Cricket Coach he cannot do politics. Very wise of PML N by offering them verification of those constituency!
seeing PTI failure in governance. convinced me tht khan is a flop. However during elections they have valid claims of rigging. Khawaja rafiq has the audacity to even question IK votes. Deep down he knows he is a fraud as he has rigged his own constituency. Judiciary as always has failed. A puppet of the government.
By assuring the public that he does not intend to bring the democratic government down Imran Khan is insuring the failure of his movement. The public wants to see the government's rein taken from the robber barons. Always a penny short and a day late defines Imran Khan.
Khawaja Saad Rafiq is leading the noise, as his Ministership and Parliamentarianship are at stake. He knows what he did during elections and which ROs he corroborated with. He knows that he has no option but to raise the temperature.
Considering allegations and counter allegations by PTI and PMLN, it is obvious that the entire election was rigged. The officials involved in rigging must be tried under Article 6 for stealing people's mandate, and a fresh election is the only solution.
Go ahead, I am sure PTI won't be scared or take stay orders like Ayaz Sadiq (9 months and still on stay order).
Mr Saad Rafique...
Even Meesha Shafi mentioned that she was waiting in Lahore for casting her vote and SAAD RAFIQUE was inside the ladies polling station for 2 hours and doors were closed. its a shameful act..
Atleast raise your standard for rigging... go to mens polling station...
so PML-N is actually saying they both rigged elections and two wrongs make a right so let's call it even....... Ladies and gentlemen and that's the democracy you are talking about in my dearest country
"If you verify ours, we verify yours"......LoL!!!! Proof of joker Punjabi Assembly.
It is govt job that everyone is satisfied...........What Govt is saying they don't even know about their own apprehensions where as IK is coming out to claim what he thinks is a fraud by Punjabis to get to power.
A very fair proposal from PMLN. PTI must stop destabilizing the country and talk sense.
Mr Saad Rafique
Please make your mind up about your stance.
You and the whole government have been saying for the past year that this is not in your hands....,and you are helpless. Only the election commmission can do this which is 'independent'!!
You also said this when Chaudhry Nisar offered to open 40 constituency results.
Now what laws have changed for you to offer this?
Either you were lying then or are lying now! People dont believe anything you say.
Where were you last 1 year Mr Rigger Rafique?
Very proactive ... after 1 year of dilly dally and under threat of a popular rally, N makes a new offer of review.
Great.
Do it or Don't- Don't offer!
@Ozair: PML(N) is not scared, it does not want young burgers to burn themselves in hot weather. Its a good offer, Imran should accept it. PML(N) also care for security officials who would be guarding empty protest areas under the burning sun.
@Ozair:
Its called exposing a liar and a phony internet based revolutionary. It becomes all the more important to expose such two bit con artists whose strings are being pulled by the establishment.
how can govt.make the offer? does that mean govt. was controlling EC and Judiciary in their workings?
N-League's demand has no legality as they didn't file petitions to ETs. They are just wasting time in playing politics.
If they were so sincere why had they removed NADRA chairman in so hast? Why do they take stay order even just on recounting and checking the votes and bags?
BTW it is not the job of any so called fact finding committee to verify the votes.
What kind of Judiciary do we have in this country ??. The main reason of all mess we have is the Rotten Judicial System.
this shows that govt is scared because more then 60,000 people would participate at D-Chowk on 11th May
Act like a man IK and accept the offer
Khawaja Sb. What about your own election? I am from your constituency and have seen you with my own eyes rigging and doing all sort of negative things to win the elections. SHAME ON YOU!
You are not our representative and I am taken aback by your audacity.
For 1 year they have been asking for verification now PML-N feeling the heat wants to constitute a parliamentary fact-finding committee? Yesterday was Nawaz also desperately trying to get the power crisis in control to help calm people. Its not just PTI in rage its the nation thats in rage. If PML has "bhari awaami mandate" what have they to fear from a protest?
PTI should know people have rejected their illogical ideology and if there is any coup dictator will not give them much other than batman job,what will they do then? Long march against tanks or escape with burqa? I predict burqa will be the best choice.
This is called calling the bluff! Great political move Khawaja Saad Rafiq. If IK had the guts, he should have declared on the floor of the house that a government which is formed on the basis of a rigged election will never solve the problems of the masses. Icing on the cake should have been, "Until the system is overhauled, PTI would rescind control of KPK and resign from all parliaments, National and Provisionals."
PTI wants Marshal law so that they can expedite the process of making Pakistan a theocratic state.They want kind of elelection commission which can take the horse to the well and make the horse drink water as well.
PMLN running scared of what they called "Rejected Politicians" Why so anxious?