Vote fraud charges: Open ballot bags, see the fraud, says Imran

PML-N lawyers say no evidence was shown in hearing

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan appeared before an election tribunal on Saturday and shared evidence of rigging in the National Assembly constituency of NA-122 during last year’s general elections.

This is the same constituency from where Imran Khan contested the election. Official results showed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as the winner with 93,389 votes against Imran’s 84,517 votes.

In July 2013, Imran filed a petition before the tribunal, alleging that massive rigging had taken place in the constituency.

Imran told the tribunal – headed by Justice Kazim Ali Malik – that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supporters forced his party’s polling agents to leave the polling stations without examining the election and counting process.



“The PTI polling agents were not handed over attested copies of [the] election result and some persons forcibly got their signatures on blank papers,” he said, adding that the PTI agents also received death threats.

“Meanwhile, the PML-N in collaboration with presiding officers and returning officers (ROs) manoeuvred the election results,” Imran said.



He appealed to the tribunal to call for production of the documents. “Inspection of record is necessary for collection of evidence. All the evidences of rigging are in the ballot bags of NA-122,” he said.

During the course of proceedings, Ayaz Sadiq’s counsel also cross-examined the PTI chief. The counsel asked Imran to explain why it had moved the petition before the tribunal some two months after the election.

The PTI chief replied that it took time to record the statements of the polling agents and to collect evidence. “Moreover, I had got injured and it was not possible for me to file an election petition immediately,” he added. After recording the statement, the tribunal adjourned the hearing till December 8, when it is likely to announce its judgment.

Later the PTI chief told media that he had provided the tribunal with evidence and that it is up to the tribunal to issue directives for the opening of bags and collection of further evidence of rigging.

“After inspection of record, everyone will know what happened in the elections,” he said, adding that if he were in Ayaz Sadiq’s place, he would not bother to get his ballot bags recounted.

Earlier, the tribunal dismissed an application of Ayaz’s counsel, seeking disqualification of the PTI witnesses. Ayaz’s counsel had said the attestation of documents describing duties of election agents was bogus as it was attested by a fake oath commissioner.

‘Faisalabad will have to sacrifice’

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting with traders’ associations from 50 markets of Lahore at PTI’s Lahore office, Imran Khan said Faisalabad will have to give its sacrifice one day for bringing about a lasting change.

“Faisalabad will have to face a one-day closure. Factories are also closing due to inflation. We are fighting for the people’s right. We will not force anybody to close business in Faisalabad but those who are against the policies of the government will support our call,” he said.

“Transporters have decided to support our call of shutdown and they will not ply any transport on Monday in Faisalabad. The district bar council has also decided to support us,” Imran added.

Imran, however, also called upon the government to pick up the threads of negotiation from where it had left off.

“Everything other than [the PTI’s demand for] resignation of [Prime Minister] Nawaz Sharif had been finalised in the negotiations.

“We have withdrawn that demand and now the dialogue should start from where it broke off. A joint commission and joint investigation team should be formed to probe the rigging allegation,” he said.

Later addressing his supporters at his sit-in in Islamabad, Imran said the PML-N’s lawyers always claim that he has not submitted evidence of rigging. “If you have not done rigging, then why are you hiding behind stay orders?” said Imran questioning Sadiq.

Talking with reference to his call for shutdown, Imran said: “The PML-N is really scared.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2014.