Rigging allegations: Imran drops resignation before probe demand
Calls for inclusion of ISI, MI officials in independent commission.
BAHALWALPUR:
Apparently backtracking on his earlier demand for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down to ensure a fair audit of the 2013 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday called for an ‘independent commission’ to investigate his rigging allegations.
Imran also expressed reservations over the proposed nomination of former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani for the office of chief election commissioner, saying that the “PTI wants a free judiciary in Pakistan, but the judiciary is still not free”.
Imran was visibly happy to see the turnout at the rally in Rahim Yar Khan, an underdeveloped region which, according to him, has been neglected by successive governments.
“This is not the Pakistan that the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal had envisioned. We have failed to realise their dreams because we have never utilised our true potential and have not recognise our true potential,” he said.
“When I say I will build a ‘Naya Pakistan’ people try to demotivate me but we have to keep our hopes high,” he said and claimed that time was not far when people would come to Pakistan for jobs and Pakistanis would not have to go abroad in search of greener pastures.
“After building a ‘Naya Pakistan’, I will prove that I’m the person who people trust with their money because they know that I will never steal their money; they know that their money will not be spent on Imran Khan’s house but for the welfare of the people,” he said.
He said during the last 88 days of his sit-in, he had not attended any wedding or funeral, could not meet his sons and had been living in candle-light because his electricity connection had been cut off due to nonpayment of bill worth Rs30,000.
“I am making all these sacrifices for the country and not for prime minister-ship. The love and warmth of people is enough for me,” he said. Imran said he did not give a damn to a prime minister-ship like that of Nawaz Sharif who had to listen to the chant of ‘Go Nawaz, Go’ whenever he came out of his house.
He once again challenged Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari to declare their assets and also show their paid taxes. Imran also invited people on November 30 at his grand protest in Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.
Apparently backtracking on his earlier demand for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down to ensure a fair audit of the 2013 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday called for an ‘independent commission’ to investigate his rigging allegations.
“I call upon the government to constitute a commission under the Supreme Court to probe into the massive electoral fraud. The government should decide who will head the commission,” he said, adding that officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) should also sit on such a panel.
Addressing a big public meeting in the southern Punjab district of Rahim Yar Khan, the PTI chairman said the proposed commission should conclude its investigations in 4-6 weeks. “And if it proves rigging, then the prime minister must resign and fresh elections should be held under an independent election commission,” he added.
Imran also expressed reservations over the proposed nomination of former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani for the office of chief election commissioner, saying that the “PTI wants a free judiciary in Pakistan, but the judiciary is still not free”.
Imran was visibly happy to see the turnout at the rally in Rahim Yar Khan, an underdeveloped region which, according to him, has been neglected by successive governments.
“This is not the Pakistan that the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal had envisioned. We have failed to realise their dreams because we have never utilised our true potential and have not recognise our true potential,” he said.
“When I say I will build a ‘Naya Pakistan’ people try to demotivate me but we have to keep our hopes high,” he said and claimed that time was not far when people would come to Pakistan for jobs and Pakistanis would not have to go abroad in search of greener pastures.
“After building a ‘Naya Pakistan’, I will prove that I’m the person who people trust with their money because they know that I will never steal their money; they know that their money will not be spent on Imran Khan’s house but for the welfare of the people,” he said.
He said during the last 88 days of his sit-in, he had not attended any wedding or funeral, could not meet his sons and had been living in candle-light because his electricity connection had been cut off due to nonpayment of bill worth Rs30,000.
“I am making all these sacrifices for the country and not for prime minister-ship. The love and warmth of people is enough for me,” he said. Imran said he did not give a damn to a prime minister-ship like that of Nawaz Sharif who had to listen to the chant of ‘Go Nawaz, Go’ whenever he came out of his house.
He once again challenged Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari to declare their assets and also show their paid taxes. Imran also invited people on November 30 at his grand protest in Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.