Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to accept the verdict of the election tribunal regarding a vote audit in NA-122 and not to damage national consensus forged on fighting terrorism.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, in a press conference on Saturday, said that the tribunal in its report had found that Imran's votes had decreased, therefore the PTI chief should accept the report.
Rashid added that the PTI chairman had demanded a recount of votes, but Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had once again emerged victorious.
“The PML-N had been anxiously waiting for the tribunal’s result because we were confident that there was no rigging in 2013 general elections.”
The tribunal has sent its report to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Rashid said that the PTI had been demanding audit of four constituencies, “it was demanded of the government that four constituencies be opened but they were already open and proceedings were going on.”
He said that there were some delays in proceedings of NA-122, but “we were not responsible for the delay.”
“Imran Khan has not raised any allegations in the petition that he was levelling against the government from his container,” Rashid said, adding that in his petition, the PTI chief had only demanded a recount of votes and not questioned anything else.
He added that the recount was held in the presence of representatives from both sides. “Imran Khan lost the elections after this recount.”
Talking about the PTI chairman’s latest decision to deposit electricity bills of his Bani Gala residence, the Minister said that, “Khan made a good decision yesterday, and I would request you to accept this tribunal report as well.”
Daniyal Aziz from the PML-N said that the ECP has constituted local commission comprising two judges of integrity and good repute. “The statement of recount was agreed by both the parties. The number of rejected votes of Imran Khan is greater than Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.”
“Imran Khan’s claim of 30,000 fake votes is nothing but a pack of lies,” he added. “The PML-N would not allow the PTI to continue its media trial.”
National consensus
“You would get opportunities for politicking later on, so try not to dent the national consensus,”Rashid urged the PTI chief.
After highlighting the decision of the tribunal, the minister said that Pakistan is going though difficult times and fighting a war against terrorism. He said that the entire nation was still somber and scars of the December 16 attack on Army Public School were still fresh.
He added that the government and the PTI had been many differences in the past, but this was the first time that the entire political leadership had developed consensus on what terrorism was, who was a terrorist and how to deal with them.
Talking about the steps taken by the government after the December 16 attack, the minister said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif convened All Parties Conference (APC), and helped develop consensus and pass a constitutional amendment.
“We want the people of Pakistan to give their verdict now,” Rashid said, responding to a question.
COMMENTS (38)
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Ironic if he ever grants your request, you’ll be living in far worse conditions. While pmln makes all sorts of promises to you, fills up their bank accounts and leaves the country to go hide in SA or UK for rest of their life, their children and grandchildren with untold luxuries and Pakistan further sinks then you might wish to retract that statement. Our curse is politicians and country’s failure are people like you that not only never wake up but also smoother any one trying to pull the country out of the dirt.
I think PTI is again taking it wrong and misleading the masses deliberately. What they are calling as the bogus or fake votes, they are actually "invalid votes" which became invalid due to technical errors comitted by the voters i.e. no thumb impression, unclear stamping etc. This happens in every electio and in no way these can be called fake votes or votes that caused mass scale and organized rigging. Secondly, during the fresh recount, all such "invalid votes" have been removed from counting and only after that Ayaz Sadiq's tally of vote has been increased.
I think gov should not waste its time on PTI alligation anymore and should leave IK to his own misery.
Was that a verdict?
@raider: Raider your biasness has blinded you. I hope you see the light soon. PTI was riding a lie and thought with a mix of dharnas, media campaign (ARY, Mooed Perzada, Rauf Klasra and Shahid Masood) street power and jalsas and lot of fabricated stories they can bring the government down. it doesn't work that way brother for the real ingredient is truth.
@Pashto Times: we are seeking any development in punjab since last 7 years, for sample visit islambad other wise consult rauf klasra today column
@Stop Crying: 25k votes found bogus report, consult dunya newspaper front page
@Rocket: what type of lie, i could not pick your comment
Those justifying the prior election results are indeed a bunch of loosers. Is there ANY political party that did not claim that elections are rigged ? Pakistanis are living with slave mentality.
PTI and Sheikh Rasheed's politics is finished. They lied their way to 3 months of anarchy. Now they don't even have the decency to accept that they were wrong.
Such a pity to PTI. The total count after discounting votes that cant be varified, Ayaz Sadiq has won. Plain and Simple, PTI lost again. Next elections 2018.
@real truth .dear how about the broken seal of four ballot boxes? boxes were not under the custody of PTI govt.
I am surprised that Tribune express is also biased. Why did you ignored about 30000fake votes? and the press confrence of Shirin Mazari ? Four ballot box seal were already broken? . You just promoting the white lies of lier Mr.Perveez Rashid.....Are you people really helping Pakistan?
@Imran Qadri:
I really feel bad form your mother!
Typical Pervez Rasheed--driving a Water Car again!
Imran Khan and PTI you have list me as your voter. I am better voting PPP or MQM.
PTI and its leader Imran Khan has no credability left. One cannot believe a man who lies about his own marriage. How can we trust anything given Imran Khan has been found lying about almost everything.
Oh PTI trolls stop crying. Unverifiable votes don't mean the votes are void. Ayaz Saadiq won fair and square. If anything it is the ECPs fault for using faulty ink and not PMLn. Plus remember it was the PPP government that constituted the caretaker PM and ECP members with the consent of all stakeholders including Imran Khan.
I am sure that this news or the eventual and the justified outcome at NA-122 would mean a tinker's damn to IK. After all, the dude has got to plan an "all expense paid" honeymoon.
@Imran Qadri: ok, if votes found unverifiable it may not necessarily be a counterfeit votes, if these votes found in contradiction to counter files and could not even form 14 and 15 be surfaced then what is the credibility of votes, and what is the credibility of thumb impressions of all those put on document by land revenue department and like wise
According to PTI verdict in favor of PTI means clean elections.
@salman: And if you had taken the trouble of reading the whole story somewhere, then you would know that all the unverifiable votes were rejected and EXCLUDED from the counting. Once more, the unverifiable votes did not benefit Ayaz Sadiq -- they were simply thrown out of the total count.
If they are so true then why hidding behind courts yet or why afraid of a judicial comission?
@Anarchist: Its gulu logic, the foundation of pmln thinking.
@Imran Qadri: According to ecp rules, if vote is unverifiable, it is inadmissable, I.e. cannot be counted. Look it up...
@Imran Qadri:
May be you are right. The basic question though is when form 14 & 15 are missing, along with other irregularities, how could you declare a wear? You cannot declare winner without forms 14 & 15 for all polling stations as per ECP's rules.
@kamz: how long you will have to cover up these peoples
Yes Imran is a liar and a master of U turns for sure. He promised new KPK in 90 days and miserably failed. For God sake tell President Mamnoon Hussain to impose governor Raaj here in KPK to see some relief and developmental work here like Panjab.
What could be more important issue than rigged election through counterfeit votes to steal public mandate?
It's just vote recount , what about audit , whawhat about counterfeit votes , pls don't make nation fool , cuz u know we have lot of fools among us
you mean they should accept that, inspite of counterfeit votes, iyaz sadiq as winner
Few days ago you asked PTI to wait for judgment by the tribunal after they held a press conference in response to yours. Now, you are jumping the gun.
As far as the report is concerned, even GEO reported there are about 37.000 counterfeit votes and other irregularities. But N League is sticking to its old line and logic; as long as Sadiq has more votes, he wins. Does not matter whether they are fake or not.
Amazing logic.
I guess Govt. should leave PTI to their misery now. There are much more important things to do than crying over spilled milk.