Punjab

Tribunal's verdict: Do not punish us for failures of RO's, PO's, says Rafiq

Says they will challenge the verdict once they receive the official copy of the tribunal's decision

Web Desk May 04, 2015

Saad Rafique addressing the media in Lahore on Monday evening. PHOTO: RIAZ AHMED/EXPRESS

LAHORE: Reacting to Monday's election tribunal ruling and subsequent allegations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on rigging in NA-125, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq has claimed that they were being punished for what were failures of the returning and presiding officers and that they will challenge the tribunal's verdict.

Addressing a press conference at the the Lahore Press Club on Monday evening, Rafique said that it had not been proven that the elections had been rigged.

"Out of 265 polling stations, 15 polling stations were opened (for scrutiny) and of these, election irregularities were found in seven. The responsibility for this was fixed on returning officers and nominal punishment was also suggested," Rafiq said, adding that they were waiting on the official notification of the tribunal's judgement.

He added that if the tribunal had found rigging in the election, or was found guilty of rigging, he would have been disqualified.

"If a few presiding officers and returning officers had not performed their job properly, then should the over 100,000 population of the constituency and the winning candidates punished for this?"

Responding to allegations made by the PTI chief, Rafiq claimed that "Imran Khan shown a fake verdict (of the tribunal)."

The minister also criticised the Nadra report which Imran had used to substantiate allegations against Rafiq, claiming that evidence of multiple votes being cast in the constituency should be made public.

A tribunal today ruled in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, announcing re-polling in the coveted NA-125, Lahore Cantt constituency. Further, it also announced re-polling in PP-155 constituency (Cantonment).

Read: Rigging evidence: PTI chalks out new strategy

He referred to a judge’s remarks in the case that the petitioner Hamid Khan, could not present any evidence to prove his claims.

Read: Judicial commission: PPP names 65 constituencies for poll rigging probe

Earlier, welcoming an election tribunal’s decision of re-elections in NA-125, PTI chairman Imran Khan demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the presiding and returning officers involved in electoral rigging accountable.

“We will pressurise them (POs, ROs) to disclose who asked them to rig the elections,” he said while addressing the press in Islamabad earlier today.

COMMENTS (30)

Dr.M.m.Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Now that the CAT is out of the bag the RATS will run for cover under the legalistic definations!

Syed Imran | 8 years ago | Reply @QAZI: @Blithe NOthing to do with PTI and i kind of agree with you, why punish winner for ROs mistakes. But there is question why would ROs make so many mistakes? Until we get to that we are not going to eradicate this problem. As far as you say the damage that has been caused to the country because of this, i can only say this damage is nothing compare to what these two Sharif brothers are causing. I know IK will never win or allowed to win, but these sharif brothers are not the answers. I just hope we as people of pakistan realize this before its too late. At the end of the day for me my Pakistan comes first then all these parties.

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Muhammad Arif | 8 years ago | Reply @Zaheer: Dear Zaheer sahib., I fully agree with your comments. After long long time Railway was on the track. I fear its return of old painful days when commuters had to suffer for hours together on account of delayed departure and arrival of trains. Mr. Saad Rafiq changed the complexion of Railway Department especially up keep and timely departure and arrival of trains. I was regular commuter of Daewoo Bus Service from Rawalpindi to Lahore and back. However, I switched to Railway service and found it very comfortable and above all its timely departure and arrival. Pakistan need Ministers like Mr. Saad Rafiq. I pray for his earliest return as Minister for Railways. Surely he deserves come back. Sincerely, Muhammad Arif, Islamabad..

NS | 8 years ago | Reply @tariq: I don't think Saad Rafiq has the brains nor the intention of understanding it's a game of probabilities. This guy is such a joke, that he's not even funny!

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @Blithe: and lunatics like Saad Rafiq have done wonders for the country..... this country is in this pathetic state because of stupid followers like yourself who lack the rationale to distinguish between right and wrong And also criticism is sometimes required for betterment of the system

Tanoli | 8 years ago | Reply Good Decision By Election Tribunal..Mr.Saad Rafique was directly Involved in Rigging and now he is putting everything on RO and POs...Very Funny:)

Naeem Khan | 8 years ago | Reply I don't think it was the incompetency or neglect on part of Presiding and Returning officers but they were coerced by some one to do the rigging and most likely it was Khawaja Saad Rafiq's behalf, there should be no doubt about it. He is blaming the PO and the RO but truth be told it was him who encouraged rigging. Now that he is caught, he is shifting the blame on others. Look into the bank records of concerned PO and RO and their properties for that period Those officers must be punished for ballot rigging and should go to jail for doing it regardless who lobbied them. It is possible that they may have been bribed which will not be surprising.

Malveros | 8 years ago | Reply @tariq: 50% where did u get this number from ? It is no more than 18%. A victory margin of 40000 will never be covered by PTI.

Malveros | 8 years ago | Reply @oBSERVER: The RO's were appointed on the request of PTI for 2013 elections. Have u convieniently forgotten this ? Hence the lack of their training. Khawaja Saad Rafique will win again by a huge margin and the air-conditioner lawyer will have to face a humiliating defeat again.

S Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply @Manzoor Warraich: "He will win again by the grace of Allah" Mr Warraich, your leader has been proven to have won his seat by unfair means. Still you're hoping for the Grace of Allah? Your leader along with all the other corrupt leaders should rather worry about the Wrath of Allah - something that we all seem to forget and still call ourselves muslims.

Zaheer | 8 years ago | Reply In recent time Saad Rafiq has emerged as a thorough politican and a sincere minister who has worked with honesty and sincerity to revamped the collapsed Pakistan Railways and all credit goes to Khawaja Saad Rafiq. The decision of Election Tribunal is not against the now former minister but the former railway minister has become the victim of a strange verdict which on one side declares he is not involved any rigging and on the other hand ordered for fresh election in NA-125. Now PTI which is quite happy with the decision do not understand the repercussion of the fresh election. If in the fresh election PML (N) defeat PTI than what would be the graph of the popularity of PTI as in the recent elections of Cantonment areas. I am not the supporter of PML (N) but the fact is that continuous U-turn of PTI on its decisions has already damaged the party's image in the public. the party have a large number of supporters across the country but not the voters.

Sam | 8 years ago | Reply Can we ask him to refund all the status he enjoyed as an Minister? He cheated and should be punished.

ali | 8 years ago | Reply Alhamdulilah a good decision by court. A lesson for corrupt politicians and their followers. Shame on pmln for rigging the election. We voted against Saad rafique and shall vote against him in re elections.

ali | 8 years ago | Reply Dishounest politicians are shameless and hypocrites

salman | 8 years ago | Reply This cheater Saad Rafaqiue was also doing rigging in a female both as reported by the media that time

Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany | 8 years ago | Reply This is one out of many punctures Sethi fixed. The staff was on orders of the corrupt PML-N gang. These rascals think they can always take us for a ride. He is the guy who used to talk the most. It's time he shut up.

Khan Jr | 8 years ago | Reply Sorry Mr Rafique, no piddling electoral officer has the courage to tamper with votes unless he has two things: 1. Instructions from above 2. Protection from above It's normally the provincial government in power that calls the shots. So instead of blaming the ROs and POs, Saad Rafique should place the blame squarely on Shahbaz Sharif and his cohorts (which includes his very own self)

Lahoribadshah | 8 years ago | Reply Saad rafiq won by the grace of Shaitaan, you idiots, Allah does not reward the cheaters and liars !!!

raider | 8 years ago | Reply don't try to camouflage rigging with irregularities, to all above who are in making to vote for same thug , you do have right all the way to love your shackles, in shah allah they will continue to punish you by one way or other way

Orator | 8 years ago | Reply Although I am a supporter of MQM and never voted to PMLN but Mr. Saad Rafiq seems to me an honest and straight forward person. I do hope he would get his seat back with huge margin.

Lahore | 8 years ago | Reply We will vote for saad rafiq again. Enough with this unstable politics, we want govt to keep working as it is.

Sharjeel Awan | 8 years ago | Reply Khawaja Sahib, please don't worry. You are one of the most honest politician. You will get victory again in the by-election.

QAZI | 8 years ago | Reply Khawaja Saad Rafique is quite right. Why is he punished for anything wrong done by Presiding Officers?

Truth | 8 years ago | Reply Long live Nawaz Sharif. Allah bless Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif.

Gramscian | 8 years ago | Reply Sad Rafique never fails to amuse. A couple of months ago he was saying that IK's mentally imbalanced and I would quit politics for sure, if the tribunal gives a verdict against me. I suggest him to go back to prize bond business. What gives?

Manzoor Warraich | 8 years ago | Reply We voted for Khawaja Saad Rafiq. We will again vote for him. Nothing to worry about. He will win again by the grace of Allah.

Fouzia | 8 years ago | Reply Wrong decision by Election Tribunal.

tariq | 8 years ago | Reply It is the percentage of irrevularitiez. Fifty percent is high no matter what you say

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply @oBSERVER: PTI trolls still have not been able to stay away from conjecture and supposition . Like leader like troll. It is the same system that Imran Con was abusung and physically attacking that has dispensed a verdict . Imran Con get on his knees and ask for forgiveness. He and his miscreants have caused immeasurable harm to the country

oBSERVER | 8 years ago | Reply Who appointed ROs and Election Staff? Before appointing caretaker boys. Showbaz addressed all Punjab Administration and told them he was returning soon so behave and ensure he returned. Saad Rafique confirms that assertion. All along Saad was the most worried Minister. He could not hide the stress he was under because he had cheated. It amazes me to note the number of times these MNAs tell lies.

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