NA-122 verdict: I am being fined for mistakes of ROs, POs, complains Ayaz Sadiq

Former NA speaker says he has not sought a stay against the tribunal's verdict, but has challenged it

LAHORE: De-seated National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq claimed on Friday that the election tribunal probing into allegations of rigging in NA-122 had failed to establish a concerted effort to manipulate results of the election in his favour and that he was basically suffering for the mistakes by returning and prsiding officers.

“Election Tribunal did not mention anywhere in its decision that organised or individual rigging was done in my favor. I was fined for the mistakes of Returning and Presiding Officers for Rs2.4 million,” Sadiq said in his first official press conference since having challenged the tribunal’s verdict in the Supreme Court.

However, the former National Assembly Speaker denied that he had sought a stay order over the tribunal’s verdict. “I have challenged this in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but didn’t take a stay order against it. I will contest this case and prove that the tribunal’s decision was inappropriate.”

Sadiq further alleged that the tribunal judge had relied on figures provided by lawyers belonging to his opponent, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

PML-N says PTI fielding tainted candidate against Sadiq

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zubair Umer said PTI’s candidate for repolls in NA-122, Aleem Khan, had declared his annual income as Rs 4.8 million in tax returns.

“Surprisingly his income hasn’t increased or decreased in last several years and remains the same,” Umer said.

“Even more surprising is the fact that in response to an FIR registered against him in 2013, Aleem confessed to being involved in a fraud of Rs1.5 billion involving EOBI and also returned Rs600 million.”

Asking the election commission to take notice, Umer asked how could Aleem have returned Rs600 million if his income was only Rs4.8 million a year.