Imran announces protest outside ECP headquarters on October 4

PTI chief says his party will contest the upcoming by-polls and LG polls but not under the current ECP set up

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Issuing an ultimatum to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Saturday gave the polling body up until October 4 to replace its existing four members, while also announcing a demonstration outside ECP headquarters if the party's demands are not met. 

Addressing a gathering in Lahore on Saturday, Imran said his party would contest all by-polls and local bodies elections, but not under the existing ECP set up.

I invite you all to reach Islamabad on 4th October in front of election commission of Pakistan, says @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 29, 2015

He announced Jehangir Tareen would contest the by-poll from NA-154 Lodhran while Aleem Khan would compete from NA-122, the constituency where Imran contested against Ayaz Sadiq in the general elections of 2013. Shoaib Siddiqi will contest election from PP-147 which falls under NA-122, said Imran.

Aleem Khan will be our candidate from #NA122, says @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 29, 2015

I congratulate all of PTI, and urge the brilliant people of PP-147 to join hands with me, and make this bye-election a truly memorable one!

— Shoaib Siddiqui (@ShoaibSiddiqui_) August 29, 2015

Imran said his party would not allow anybody to do rig the upcoming polls.

"We will install cameras at every polling station and will not allow anybody to cast fake votes,” he said.

I invite you all to reach Islamabad on 4th October in front of election commission of Pakistan, says @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 29, 2015

Read: Election tribunal rules in favour of PTI, orders re-poll in NA-154

Reiterating his stance on ECP, the PTI chief said the polling body acted as if it was election commission of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

He said the polling body had until October 4 to replace the existing ECP members, adding that his party would decide its future course of action on October 4, depending on whether the ECP meets its demands or not.

Earlier, Imran had said the poll inquiry commission’s verdict on general elections would have been different provided the election tribunals gave their ruling first.

PTI chairman Imran Khan addresses media outside Bani Gala in Islamabad on August 29, 2015. PHOTO: WASEEM NAZIR/EXPRESS

“The judicial commission investigated the elections as a whole while elections tribunals have counted each and every ballot,” said Imran while talking to media outside Bani Gala before leaving for a party meeting in Lahore. “Decisions by the tribunals were delayed deliberately.”

The commission in its 237-page report had said despite some lapses on part of the ECP “the 2013 general elections were in large part organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.”

Read: Imran demands resignations of ECP officials, chairman NADRA

Accusing the ECP of colluding with ruling PML-N in poll rigging, the PTI chief said the party would decide if they would contest the upcoming by-polls and local government elections under the same ‘umpires.’

Regarding the cancellation of party rally, Imran said there were security threats and he could not put his workers’ life in danger.

He was scheduled to arrive in Lahore on Saturday to host rallies marking the party's recent victory as the election tribunal announced re-polling in NA-122 and NA-154. However, Lahore administration failed to give the party security clearance.

The PTI chief once again challenged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to contest against him in NA-122.

“I am inviting you. Have a match with me. You can bring your own umpires just like you used to [during our cricket matches] in Lahore Gymkhana,” said Imran.