Presenting his evidence, Imran reportedly told the tribunal that all votes at the constituency should be recounted and evidence would present itself.
Speaking to the media after PTI representatives met with Lahore district body and traders' bodies in Gulberg on Saturday, Imran said that if the government was convinced about the transparency of the elections, it would not be so hesitant about accountability.
“The evidence is in the ballot bags. Why are they so scared of opening them?”
The PTI chief demanded that the government explain why it was hiding behind the stay orders if it was so sure about the outcome of the elections.
The tribunal will decide on Monday, whether the votes will be recounted or not.
Ahead of his arrival at the hearing earlier in the day, PTI supporters gathered at the election commission office and chanted 'Go Nawaz go' slogans. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supporters also arrived outside the office to counter with PTI supporters.
Supporters and unauthorised persons were, however, not allowed to enter the election commission office.
Ahead of his departure for Lahore, Imran addressed the media and claimed that all elections held in the country, with the exception of the 1970 elections, were subjected to rigging.
"Even those who have won the elections will say that rigging has taken place," he said, adding that he was hopeful that there would be justice following the tribunals.
During an election tribunal hearing on November 29, the judge had requested Imran to present witnesses for the alleged rigging in NA-122 in the May 2013 elections.
More than 15 witnesses were presented and their statements were heard.
When questioned about his 'Plan C', Imran said that "Plan C has not even begun yet".
He urged the people of Faisalabad to join him in his shut-down of the city if they wanted revolution. "I am telling people to come out with me if they want a revolution," he said.
Imran concluded that if the judicial commission does not carry out proper negotiations, he would continue with his programme.
“Faisalabad will be shut down on Monday. If the people want freedom and justice, they should be willing to make sacrifices,” The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said.
Imran said that he apologises in advance for any inconvenience that their protest may cause residents.
“There will be no forceful closing of shops or businesses, but we ask the people to join us in this call,” the PTI chief urged.
Imran added that he would be making his way to the city to lead the call for shut down.
During Saturday’s press conference, PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry informed about surety given by traders and district bar council regarding closure in Faisalabad on Monday.
On that, Imran announced that both the bodies had decided to join PTI’s call for shut down in the city.
Speaking about electoral rigging
Imran said that if any PTI lawmaker, who has submitted their resignation from the assembly, went to the parliament, they will be expelled from the party.
The PTI chief added that the party held Justice (retd) Sardar Raza in high esteem as the newly appointed Chief of Election Commissions (CEC), adding that there was no political party which did not raise allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections.
Decrease in petroleum prices because of PTI protests
The PTI chief claimed that the recent drop in petroleum prices was due to their protests.
While answering a question regarding allegations made by the government that the PTI protests were hurting the economy, Imran said Ishaq Dar had claimed in August that the economy was doing well, with the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claiming otherwise.
He added that said that the government should first make up its mind and then complain.
Talks to resume from where they were left off
Asked about the resumption of talks between the PTI and the government, Imran said that they would pick up negotiations from where they broke off.
While conceding that his party had backed off its demand for the PM’s resignation, Imran insisted that composition of a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) must include representatives of Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
He alleged that the government was backing out of its earlier agreed stance.
COMMENTS (23)
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15 witnesses to the rigging! This is enough to justify a full investigation by opening the ballot bags.
Around the world, the onus is always on the defendant (in this case PML-N) to prove that they are "not" guilty. But here the situation is reversed, they are asking the plaintiff (in this case PTI) to provide proof. This does not make sense, because PTI is not an investigation agency.
PTI has a good case based on the long history of rigged elections in Pakistan. Also women constitute 52% of votes, and most (if not all) women voted for PTI. It does not makea any sense that PTI would lose in 2013 elections.
Imran lost the dharna episode for now, but won a big battle that very few can see. he made an impact really.
The election tribunal should now declare this phony pretending to be Quaid-e-Azam Saani a certified loco and recommend the government to shove him into a straitjacket and throw him into a mental asylum. Trust me, a week in the asylum and away from that stuff imported from Columbia which made Pablo Escobar a millionaire would do IK a world of good.
@Adnan Siddiqi: When you have the COMPLETE State machinery plus limitless State funds at your disposal doing what I implyis not really so hard.......especially when you have the will to do it.
Imran khan go ahead n get the justice out of the jaws of crocodile !!!
So, what happened to the evidence that IK and his "Darbaries" used to wave to the press (but never handed it over), parroting all the time that IK will present it only in the court of law??? As usual, Khoda Paharh, or nickla chooha, wo bhi marra houa :-) I hope court has been convinced by IK's hollow claims that IK is a time-waster delusional, and should NOT be taken seriously!
@adnan haven't u read the entire articles or just picked up things which u like 15 witnesses have been presented infront of tribunal and IK gave evidence of rigging to the election tribunal as well thats all mentioned in the article
Keep up Imran. The nation except these self-seekers are with you.
Just for the consumption of the cult worshiping clan of Deen-e-Imrani. Out of the 202 PTI candidates who lost on National Assembly seats in 2013, 47% had to face the acrimony of seeing their sureties forfeited. Out of all the NA constituencies across Pakistan, the Party which claimed to have brought a "Tsunami," did not even field its candidates in 15% of theses constituencies.
@Parvez:
So you are basically implying here that IK dreamed of a supernatural and divine entity telling him that something fishy are in those bags? I can only feel sorry at your intellect if you are now going to blame the "Hidden Forces" of "Fixing" what's in those bags and this force had a year to do this. Where is the evidence of rigging? Where is the evidence of counter foils being manipulated? Where are those witnesses that IK said that he'll produce in NA-122 who saw with their own eyes the blatant rigging that took place in this constituency?
It'd be prudent for you folks to now realize that IK is nothing but a confidence trickster who has duped the nation and most specifically his Youthia supporters.
IK and the PTI and hence the Pakistani people can never get justice at the hands of the Crooked Sharifs and the Punjab mafia.
"After making his statement at the hearing, the PTI chief addressed the media saying that all the evidence is in the votes bags."
Hahahahahahaha.....what happened to the PowerPoint presentations that your minions have been giving for so many months now? In the end your defense is that your brain had quit functioning after that fall from the the forklift. Trust me Hazrat Waliullah Imran Niazi Banigala Sharif, your mind is not functioning today either.
@waseem:
And I have never heard you make an intelligent statement!
Not much hope from this
Election 2013 has this unique emblement that not one not two not three but all the mainstream political parties cried foul after this election. Surprising thing is that only ONE party is pressing charges against the government and is also being subsequently denied justice at all levels. Opening of the bags containing the votes will be the act on which might hinge not just the decision of this particular case but the sanctity of the entire election 2013. May Allah grant justice to the oppressed and deprived. Ameen.
There is really no contradiction between going to a tribunal and keeping up public pressure. At the end of the day, in any society, the only thing that ensure judges and governments do their job honestly is public pressure. Those are the only people they are answerable to!
I have never seen Imran speaking truth. I am sure he has told same lies before the tribunal.
That's the way Khan Sb. Use all legal options. Dharna and agitation will take you nowhere.
When the bags are opened nothing out of the ordinary will be found.........they have had over a year to fix what's in the bags. Imran Khan is fighting a losing battle......but fight he must.
So he is hopeful that tribunal will give justice. Yet he goes on to say if tribunal does not properly investigate he ewill continue protesting..... So what one read it as - give the decision i want or else i will keep on crying foul - come what may! Grow up man.
good that judges will now have to put up nonsensical rants which we poor Pakistanis are suffering for the last 4 months