Imran to file criminal cases against ROs involved in rigging
PTI Punjab chapter files petition in LHC urging it to restrain Punjab govt from harassing, arresting party workers
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday vowed to lodge criminal cases, under Article 6 of the Constitution, against Returning Officers who were allegedly involved in rigging the May 2013 general elections.
After appearing before the election tribunal Lahore headed by Justice Kazim Ali Malik at the Punjab office of Election Commission of Pakistan, Imran reiterated that he had proof of the alleged rigging committed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the 2013 general elections.
“I will produce all proof of rigging at a press conference on Friday,” he said while surrounded by senior leaders of his party.
Citing an inspection report by a commission in PP-147, he said record of 60 polling stations out of a total of 115 could not be found. He added that those ballots found in the record were unverified.
“If I was in place of Nawaz Sharif, I would order recounting and inspection of the entire election record,” the PTI chief maintained.
However, Imran said he trusts Kazim Ali Malik. He urged the tribunal to decide the case of NA-122 at the earliest so that the public could learn the truth.
Earlier, the PTI chief had filed an application before election tribunal seeking his exemption from appearing before it as an electoral petition pertaining to NA-122 is heard.
He explained that PTI was gearing up to hold a massive rally in Islamabad on November 30, which made it difficult for him to appear before the tribunal. He implored the judge to exempt him from appearing personally, adding that his counsel will submit a written reply on his behalf.
The judge, after hearing the plea, exempted Imran from personally attending the hearing scheduled for November 29.
Meanwhile, a separate application was moved by the PTI chief before tribunal requesting the judge not to link decisions of petitions about alleged rigging in NA-122 and PP-147 of Lahore.
Tribunal member Kazim Ali Malik on Tuesday had reserved verdict on a petition filed by PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqui, who had challenged results of the constituency which saw PML-N’s Mohsin Latif win.
The tribunal, however, had linked the announcement of the verdict with a decision of another petition moved by Imran challenging the win of National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122, Lahore.
Govt feels threatened by Nov 30 rally
Talking to media about the upcoming November 30 rally, PTI chief expressed his resolve to continue with the November 30 rally and said the government should refrain from creating hurdles for PTI supporters.
He said the venue for the November 30 rally will not change, and if the government tries to stop the protesters, it would be responsible for the consequences.
Imran claimed that the government felt threatened by their November 30 rally and hence was bent upon threatening party workers. He said reports of police raids, and even arrests were being received from Lahore in the wake of the November 30 rally.
He added that transporters were also being pressurised by the government to deter them from transporting protesters to the capital. Imran said the party had knocked on all doors before taking their protests to the streets.
On other hand PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri said that if the November 30 remains within the bounds of the Constitution and does not violate the law, it will be permitted.
Responding the allegations leveled by Imran regarding rigging in May 2013 general elections, he said Imran should present his proof before the election commission.
PTI asks LHC to stop govt from harassing supporters
Separately, PTI’s Punjab Chapter on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court urging it to restrain the Punjab government from arresting party workers.
President of PTI Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry claimed that Punjab government was using various tactics to stop their party’s protest from being held in Islamabad on November 30.
The petitioner stated that many of the workers had been taken into custody while many of them were being harassed by police. He added that police were also raiding houses of PTI workers.
Chaudhry said that arrest of PTI workers was illegal and unlawful and contrary to their fundamental rights.
The petitioner requested the court to stop the police from harassing and raiding houses of of PTI workers.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday vowed to lodge criminal cases, under Article 6 of the Constitution, against Returning Officers who were allegedly involved in rigging the May 2013 general elections.
After appearing before the election tribunal Lahore headed by Justice Kazim Ali Malik at the Punjab office of Election Commission of Pakistan, Imran reiterated that he had proof of the alleged rigging committed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the 2013 general elections.
“I will produce all proof of rigging at a press conference on Friday,” he said while surrounded by senior leaders of his party.
Citing an inspection report by a commission in PP-147, he said record of 60 polling stations out of a total of 115 could not be found. He added that those ballots found in the record were unverified.
“If I was in place of Nawaz Sharif, I would order recounting and inspection of the entire election record,” the PTI chief maintained.
However, Imran said he trusts Kazim Ali Malik. He urged the tribunal to decide the case of NA-122 at the earliest so that the public could learn the truth.
Earlier, the PTI chief had filed an application before election tribunal seeking his exemption from appearing before it as an electoral petition pertaining to NA-122 is heard.
He explained that PTI was gearing up to hold a massive rally in Islamabad on November 30, which made it difficult for him to appear before the tribunal. He implored the judge to exempt him from appearing personally, adding that his counsel will submit a written reply on his behalf.
The judge, after hearing the plea, exempted Imran from personally attending the hearing scheduled for November 29.
Meanwhile, a separate application was moved by the PTI chief before tribunal requesting the judge not to link decisions of petitions about alleged rigging in NA-122 and PP-147 of Lahore.
Tribunal member Kazim Ali Malik on Tuesday had reserved verdict on a petition filed by PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqui, who had challenged results of the constituency which saw PML-N’s Mohsin Latif win.
The tribunal, however, had linked the announcement of the verdict with a decision of another petition moved by Imran challenging the win of National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122, Lahore.
Govt feels threatened by Nov 30 rally
Talking to media about the upcoming November 30 rally, PTI chief expressed his resolve to continue with the November 30 rally and said the government should refrain from creating hurdles for PTI supporters.
He said the venue for the November 30 rally will not change, and if the government tries to stop the protesters, it would be responsible for the consequences.
Imran claimed that the government felt threatened by their November 30 rally and hence was bent upon threatening party workers. He said reports of police raids, and even arrests were being received from Lahore in the wake of the November 30 rally.
He added that transporters were also being pressurised by the government to deter them from transporting protesters to the capital. Imran said the party had knocked on all doors before taking their protests to the streets.
On other hand PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri said that if the November 30 remains within the bounds of the Constitution and does not violate the law, it will be permitted.
Responding the allegations leveled by Imran regarding rigging in May 2013 general elections, he said Imran should present his proof before the election commission.
PTI asks LHC to stop govt from harassing supporters
Separately, PTI’s Punjab Chapter on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court urging it to restrain the Punjab government from arresting party workers.
President of PTI Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry claimed that Punjab government was using various tactics to stop their party’s protest from being held in Islamabad on November 30.
The petitioner stated that many of the workers had been taken into custody while many of them were being harassed by police. He added that police were also raiding houses of PTI workers.
Chaudhry said that arrest of PTI workers was illegal and unlawful and contrary to their fundamental rights.
The petitioner requested the court to stop the police from harassing and raiding houses of of PTI workers.