Rigging decision: PTI lawmakers celebrate NA-154 verdict

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers on Wednesday celebrated the election tribunal’s decision regarding NA-154 in front of the Punjab Assembly.

Go Nawaz Go and Hat-trick slogans were chanted by PTI lawmakers, led by Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.

Within minutes of the announcement of the verdict by the tribunal, PTI lawmakers took to celebrating their party’s victory in the assembly courtyard.

“Justice was delayed for over two years, but the ruling has vindicated our stance,” Rasheed said. He demanded that the government and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan immediately resign. Rasheed said that 21 political parties had expressed similar reservations regarding the elections.

He said that the election tribunals’ decisions were according to facts and figures. “The National Assembly speaker’s election has been declared void. The government now has no moral authority left to stay in power. We have pursued the legal options. It is time for justice. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to return to the streets,” he said.

He said that Federal Minister Pervez Rasheed and Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah had taken to character assassination of Justice (r) Kazim Malik.

“Such behaviour is very disappointing and shows how the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tries to pressure judges. The government should let judges reach independent decisions,” he said.

Rana Sanaullah said the election tribunals’ decisions could be challenged. He said that the future course of action would be decided after considering all legal options. He said that the PTI’s demand for resignation of ECP members was illegal.

He said he respected the courts, but had the right to have reservations on certain decisions.

The minister said that he stood by his statements regarding Justice (r) Kazim Malik.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.