Saad Rafique urged not to appeal the verdict

‘PTI accepts the tribunal’s decision and has confidence in judiciary’.

LAHORE: Instead of going for an appeal against the election tribunal’s verdict, Saad Rafique should face the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in re-election, PTI Punjab president Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Monday.

He was addressing a press conference after the announcement of the election tribunal’s decision.

“Today represents a new dawn of democracy. The sanctity of vote has been reestablished through PTI chairman Imran Khan’s efforts,” he said. Chaudhry said that the PTI accepted the election tribunal’s decision. “We have confidence in the country’s judiciary,” he said.

“The returning and the presiding officers were guilty of changing the results. Hamid Khan will be the party’s candidate for fresh elections in NA-125. If the candidate is changed, it will be a party decision,” he said.

He said that local government and cantonment polls should not be compared with national level elections. “The party will prepare well for the upcoming local government elections,” he said.

Mian Muhammad Hussain, who represented PTI in the tribunal, said that the case was based on the fact that the rigging was preplanned. “The result maintenance system was stalled and the results were delayed. Forms 14, on which presiding officers compile results, were absent from the election record,” he said.

PTI Punjab information secretary Andleeb Abbas said the decision was a victory for NA-125 voters. “For several months, the NA-125 voters were on the streets, demanding justice. The sit-in in Defence was a reflection of the voters’ sentiments,” she said.

PTI leader Chaudhry Sarwar said that the tribunal’s verdict had proved that justice could prevail in the country. “PTI will not stop here. It will continue to voice its opinion against corrupt politicians. We will ensure that all measures are undertaken to exclude corrupt elements from the electoral process,” he said.

Later, supporters and party workers gathered at the Lalak Jan Chowk to celebrate the decision. They distributed sweets and danced to the tune of PTI anthems. PTI Lahore president Abdul Aleem Khan addressed the gathering and congratulated the workers. He said that Imran Khan would soon announce his schedule for a visit to the constituency.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.