Imran has still not forgiven me for hitting him with hockey stick 5 decades ago: Sadiq

NA speaker says PTI chief's rigging allegations stem from an incident that took place fifty years ago

LAHORE: Taking a jab at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday Khan's grievances against him stemmed from an incident at a hockey match nearly five decades ago when the speaker mistakenly hit Khan in the face with a hockey stick.

“50 years ago, I played a match of hockey against Imran Khan. My stick accidentally hit his face,” Sadiq told media persons outside an election tribunal in Lahore. “I believe it is time he forgives me.” The NA speaker went on to clarify that incident was an accident and not intentional. Sadiq was recording his statement regarding rigging charges in NA-122, the constituency he contested elections from.



“There has been absolutely no rigging in NA-122,” Sadiq said. “We are leading with 8,000 votes in the constituency." He thanked his voters and throngs of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters who had gathered outside the tribunal in support of Sadiq.

“I am not going to give a political speech here,” Sadiq said. “I have been under a media trial for 128 days and there is no proof of rigging”.

In an earlier recounting, some 30,000 bogus votes were discovered along with an unspecified quantity of ballot papers for NA 124 following the inspection of 284 polling stations in the National Assembly constituency of NA 122. PTI rejected the development and asked for Sadiq's resignation.