Imran Khan calls for complete audit of 2013 elections à la Afghan polls
Citing the example of the recently held Afghan presidential elections elections, Imran said that Afghanistan does not follow a democratic process yet on the allegations of rigging by Abdullah Abdullah, a complete audit of votes will be held in the neighbouring country.
Imran said it has been 14 months since elections were held but still no action has been taken against his repeated demands.
The PTI chairperson alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz government removed the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) chief and reinstated their own person to facilitate rigging.
He further added that three people, namely Colonel Khalid, Zeeshan Butt and Junaid, have been tampering with the votes sent to NADRA for thumb verification.
Imran said he would provide evidence against the three men and of rigging during his Independence Day rally on August 14. He also said that evidence regarding the involvement of different institutions and individuals, including cells established in the Lahore High Court and GOR, will be provided.
Assuring that the Azaadi march would be a peaceful protest, Khan said that it will start from Lahore all the way to Islamabad.
He further urged the Punjab government to act responsibly during their protest and not take any actions similar to the ones taken during the Model Town clashes against supporters of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.
“If anyone tries to stop the rally, they will be responsible for the consequences,” he said.
He further added that he was pleased that former president Asif Ali Zardari asked Nawaz to stop interfering in provincial matters. According to sources, the former president reminded Nawaz on Tuesday that he was democratically elected, and not a ‘monarch’.
Imran asks Nawaz to resign
Meanwhile, the PTI chief called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over, what he claimed, the mistreatment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during the ongoing military offensive in North Waziristan.
Imran said that the premier had told him that he would take him into confidence before launching the operation; however, he reiterated that he found out about it through television.
Being the chairperson of the ruling party of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which has faced the major influx of IDPs, Imran said that the federal government did not allow his party to prepare for facilitating them.
He added that the K-P government neither had the funds nor the time to prepare for the 0.9million people who have been displaced. He urged Nawaz to provide Rs20 billion to the K-P government to provide adequate facilities.
Talking about the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Bannu on June 14, Khan said that instead of distributing money among the IDPs himself, he should have given that money to the K-P government.
COMMENTS (64)
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@Aysha M: "Dont see who is saying it, focus on what is being said. Try, wont hurt." Seen it before. Just a smokescreen to hide his and his party's misdeeds, which I have witnessed personally.
@Aysha M: Many, if not the most, of the "most educated" follow him because of fear. Those who do not are intimidated and threatened. And, threats have been carried out in many an instance.
@jak: http://www.dawn.com/herald/survey/
For all that crap about PTI not achieving anything-http://www.dawn.com/herald/survey/
@Saleemi: Imran Khan said that all top level corruption will stop in 90 days and he has done that.Open your eyes please.
@Not Surprised:
http://newsweekpakistan.com/the-right-man/
Dont see who is saying it, focus on what is being said. Try, wont hurt
@Not Surprised: What has been charged of? you seem to be doing it on behalf of met police, because they havent doneany such thing. And do you really want to say that the most educated and infomed voter in the whole of Pakistan is blindly following the Right Man, what can one say about that
Imran stop politicking on someone else's behalf. It is against your dignity.
@Aysha M: Your "Right Man" has wronged so many! He has been charged with criminal offence. How can he be a right man. Those who follow blindly can never see the light.
@Kabeer:If PML N hands are so clean than why its running away from votes recounting and thump varification.PTI is ready for any varification of seats that it has won.
Ha Ha! now you are learning how to conduct elections from Afghanistan! Truly Af--Pak!
@confused: Sportsman spirit? rigging election and defrauding the entire nation and you are asking for sportsman spirit? Only illetrates follow PML-N
@Hasan: I think its not IK who has not learned from past, instead its Mr. PM who has not learned anything from the past. Look what he has done with himself in just one year. Now he is known as a MONARCH in the country.
For everyone here who says 'He is wasting the time of nation': O bhai, how on earth is he wasting your time? Is he forcing you to watch his rallies? or Is he the one making you spend the entirety of your miserable days on facebook?
@Aysha M: Army was standing outside and rigging was taking place inside the polling station.
@Saleemi: Police is truly indepemdent in KPK.All appointments in the goverment are on merit and not on ministers recommendations.Health delivery system has improved and so is the education.If you cant see the change than you have a biased minset against PTI.
Imran, you blamed Arsalan iftikhar. He resigned and answered your baseless questions in a press conference. Now it is your turn. Please hold a press conference and answer his questions. I am ashamed of voting for you. Please return my vote. I shall never repeat this mistake.
@ALL PMLN Supporters: For once would you guys stop making excuses. Your only arguement is IK is hiding his failures in KPK. If PMLN did nothing wrong, why are they resisting the audit? If they are so truthful, get the audit conducted and prove IK wrong! Please prove IK wrong! He brings all sorts of evidence against you and all you have are blank statements. Why are you so scared?
Mr. Khan, please reply Arsalan Iftikhar's questions at the earliest.
@babadoorandaish: By demanding fair and transparent election Imran Khan is trying to strenthen the democracy.Things will improve when true leadership of this country returns to power.PML N is destroying every institution of Pakistan.They can not run a cricket board or PEMRA what to talk about other more important institutions of Pakistan.Longer they stay in power worse will be the country.Its better if they go now and make way for a truly free and fair elections in the country.
I hate Imran due to abusive language he uses for others. He should learn ethics of communication.
Imran Khan is making noise just to hide failure of PTI in KPK. I am still searching for that new KPK that was to be provided by PTI within 90 days. Imran is continuously fooling his workers and nation.
@Kabeer: If PMLN hands are clean in the election than why they take stay order from High courts.PTI is ready for any constituency voters varification that it has won.
I am totally shattered to read comments in favor of PmL-N even after massive rigging, NandiPur power project fraud, worst load shedding in Ramadan, Model Town Massacre..... pitiable mentality in most of comments .... family politics is not democracy but slave minded people can not understand ....
Rigging is only in those constituencies where PTI lost. There is no rigging where PTI won. Substandard politics by PTI.
Now this man is trying to spoil the independence day of Pakistan. Shame for dirty politics of Imran.
I am fed up of this Tsunami which is a symbol of destruction. That is why Imran is trying his level best to destroy Pakistan. No hope from this Tsunami Khan. All hopes from Nawaz Sharif.
Life of this confused khan is full of confusions. He is wasting the time of nation. He is going to loose in KPK in the next elections due to PTI's poor performance in the province.
@ Dawood Your wish. Right? http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-259986-PTI-popularity-increased-in-one-year-SDPI-survey
@H chaudhry: How about jogging your memory. Not even a year ago on 22nd August 2013, there were by-elections with Army present in and outside the polling stations and MQM got 4 out of 4. These perceptions are hollow and emptied of meaning. LB elections wre held long time ago if ppl were not scared of a complete take over by MQM. Why is it so hard to believe that MQM has won hearts along with votes of the people of Karachi.
Not in favour of mid-term polls because the country is at war with itself which is more dangerous and difficult than being at war with an enemy country, so threre should have been more seriousness displayed by the two parties heads, can't call them leaders. There is only one leader who has maturity, magnanimity and malleability to address the issues faced by the country steer them out, but it has always a monental and tragic flaw that people take too long to listen to the RIGHT MAN
@Aysha M government isn't going anywhere and even if it did, never ending break will be for every politician including the one sitting in London and soon to be a gf of someone in British prison.
That said, complete audit of election is good if it happened. It will jus solidfy pmln majority as total references are 15. However, the in excusable handling of Karachi will again be on agenda. Are you ready for it? Pmln will be victorious in case of full audit but ,q, May be the biggest loser here.
Imran dear this is Pakistan and Afghan elections just ended and they only involve a count between two candidates. Demanding an audit of hundreds of contests is just plain preposterous. When will you mature?
Maybe he should have called John Kerry after the election?
PTIs popularity has drowned in its own Tsunami.
all prayers and best wishes for nawaz sharif. he is the only hope for pakistan.
This rejected man lacks sportsman spirit. It is a great blessing of Almighty Allah that Imran Khan is not PM of Pakistan. He himself is enough to ruin Pakistan like he is ruining my province KPK.
We all know your past and character. Think about yourself before criticizing others. Don't waste the time of nation and focus on KPK. KPK is suffering due to poor governance and corruption of PTI.
Shame for this Master of U Turn. When will he answer Arsalan Iftikhar's questions?
This man is a total non-sense. He wants to destabilize Pakistan and democracy.
Imran, may Allah succeed you on 14th August.
Good Luck
So if Afghanistan can agree to do the audit so quickly why can't we? Shame on people here supporting the corrupt practices of PML-N. I am grateful to IK that he is taking the stance. Someone has to do it. Do you want to be left behind even by Afghanistan?
"The PTI chairperson alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz government removed the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) chief and reinstated their own person to facilitate rigging." Again no proof. Hunch or speculation about the plausible does not make it actual. IK creates his own beliefs based on hypotheses. Why delay providing proof for such a nationally important matter when you say "... that three people, namely Colonel Khalid, Zeeshan Butt and Junaid, have been tampering with the votes sent to NADRA for thumb verification." Previously IK has promised evidence but no real evidence was ever put forward. Again, "He also said that evidence regarding the involvement of different institutions and individuals, including cells established in the Lahore High Court and GOR, will be provided." Come on, Mr. Khan. You are raging because you could not get enough votes for becoming PM. Please do not waste national time and resources for personal ambitions.
@Insider: Can you give any examples of pre-election surveys which had PTI winning? I know your "Dear Leader" has made lying into an art form, but you still cannot just make-up facts. As the saying goes, you are entitled to your opinion, but not to your "facts".
All scientific Pre-election polls showed PML-N winning. In fact, the polls were remarkably accurate in predicting the make-up of the new parliament. That is why "Im the dim" was shouting only about four seats because he knew that he had lost fair and square in all the others.
Why Nawaz did not agree to a recount on the four seats right away is beyond me. The entire issue could have been put to bed in about a week. He could have just given those four seats to PTI and still maintained a solid majority. I believe Nawaz let his ego get the better of him.
@confused:
No sir, he has not formed a Government in KPK; but he likes to take on a free ride and wants to captain the winning team not the sinking ship! He does not lead but follows!
Rex Minor
People who critics on khan are mad. Just because he was asking about 4 places to be checked? Just because he want to bring reforms in ECP for the sake of Pakistan? You people always accept wherever happens in society right or wrong apart. You saying that elections been done and everybody shouod move ahead regardless any rigging stuff. How come a true democracy can be prevail without fair elections? He just only ask about 4 places and all of these cheaters take stay orders from the court. ECP didn't do anything in last 15 months. Khan sahb all the way and God bless you. Pakistan need you, we need you. We will show to the world that Pakistanis not that fool as these stupid people pmln and PPP think we are.
Seriously, i just cant believe it. On one side, KP Govt is not taking responsibility of IDP
s and the focus is always on protests/dharnas. What happened for the 90 day promises? Let`s say even if the 4 constitutencies are given to PTI/IK, what difference is it going to make?I simply dont understand how even some of the educated ones support IK.
We have lost east Pakistan, Because of leaders.. I khan is determined to turn this state like syria and Iraq because we are in IS map and some one will work for their agenda internally that might be him...If we do not move peacefully and united today we say free Palestine and tomorrow free Pakistan.
@Aysha M: LOL. Well said. BTW, what we also need is local gov elections.
It all started from Florida, USA, the fraudulant election system, the recount and the audit, making sure that the recount becomes a fraud ; George W was declared the winner. John Kerry the wise man from accross the North American civilised world, proposed the same Houdini trick to tthe simple minded Afghan candidates and they fell for it. Now this one eyed self made politician is proposing the same to the blinds in Pakistan
Why audit and not the recount or new elections?
Rex Minor
IK you don't have legs to stand on your own-You cant dictate others but only request them.
Love or hate PTI, they are well organized. In the past week they have kept serving the IDPs, continued with projects in KPK and are organizing this million man march. While sneaking a fund raising trip to London all the same.
Would IK also accept John Kerry to come and negotiate a recount?
The federal government is stopping you from preparing to provide relief to IDP's? Should you resign if you are so powerless?
Afghanistan can have free and fair elections and we can't? Totally with you Sir.
All roads lead to mid-term polls. Time for a never ending long break and second round of hair transplant
Are you sure Mr. Khan? Like they say, let sleeping dogs lie. We know how your party used the government machinery to win by-elections in KP. I don't remember you saying that you wanted the vote count after you agreed to form the government in KP. After one year, it suddenly dawned on you that you were cheated out of power? What tripe!!
Welcome Back IK in Style! PML(N) outdated tactics will be met in kind
Audit for what? What will happen? Waste of time. What we need is qadri and his great revolution. The day we bring Swiss money back to national treasure, the day these corrupt politicians are kicked out from gov't is when Pakistan can truly prosper.
Confused Khan. So, Zardari is in your good books now?
Dear PML N, kindly show interest in fixing the electoral system of Pakistan, show interest in punishing who were involved in rigging, together with all the parties of Pakistan go to Supreme court and ask CJ to create an independent bench to investigate the rigging allegations and just shut the mouth of PTI at once..Dear PML N it is high time now that you care about Pakistan then your party and government, if rigging is proved then constitutions allows for mid term elections, go to public and take fresh mandate after new electoral reforms, PTI will be more then happy to congratulate you and wish you best..
PTI Azadi March 14 Aug Islamabad.... No threats can stop PTI's Azadi March on 14 Aug. It is our democratic right to protest peacefully & we do not need anyone's permission!
Complete Audit of 2013 Elections will help in bringing transparency in future elections. 14th August Azadi March will be historical
This guys really hasn't learned to move on. He is a prisoner of his past. I'm glad he didn't get elected, his politics of revenge will ruin the nation.
JUST ACCEPT YOU WERE REJECTED.