- PTI chief also urges ECP to play its obligatory role by conducting thorough probe into allegations of vote rigging
- Says this will help make future polls transparent
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday called upon the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) to investigate the allegations of rigging in the May 11 general elections to save the democratic process in the country.
Khan was addressing a charged crowd of hundreds of PTI supporters through a video-link. He was discharged by doctors at ShaukatKhanumMemorialHospital two days ago but because of his back injuries, has been advised to rest.
Khan also urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to play its obligatory role by conducting a thorough probe into the allegations of vote rigging, at least in the four constituencies the PTI had mentioned.
He said voters, who had turned out in record numbers in the polls, had been staging sit-ins in various parts of the country as their right to vote had been hijacked.
Khan appealed to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to order a thorough investigation into poll rigging allegations to save the democratic process in the country.
The PTI chief said he wanted rechecking of thumb-impressions in only four constituencies as a litmus test to evaluate the rigging allegations and to set the polling process straight.
“Since the returning officers were working under your control, it is your responsibility to probe the allegations. This election is being termed as the ROs’ election. ROs have never been accused of being involved in rigging before. If those who were involved in rigging were not punished, who will take part in the next elections?” he asked.
He said it was not only the PTI which was crying foul but all political parties had been leveling allegations of massive vote rigging in the general elections and all wanted a fair probe into the allegations.
“We are sure you will investigate the matter for the sake of the future of Pakistan. This will help make future polls transparent. The ECP should also take action,” he said addressing the CJP.
Khan said his party workers had struggled for the restoration of the sacked judges for the sake of the institution and not for any individual. “We did not come on to the roads for individuals. We wanted to strengthen the institution. Probe into poll fraud will help save Pakistan. The voters who had come to vote are holding spontaneous protests,” he said.
Despite the scorching heat, PTI workers gathered at D-Chowk in thousands to protest against the alleged vote rigging in various constituencies in the May 11 general elections.
PTI leaders including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mahmood, Jahangir Tareen, Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ishaq Khakwani, Amin Aslam, Malik Sohail Kamriyal, Ijaz Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Dr Wasim Shehzad and others also addressed the gathering.
The party’s workers, including a large number of youth, were waving PTI flags and were carrying placards inscribed with slogans condemning rigging in the elections.
Special poems were recited by party workers and supporters praising the leadership qualities of the PTI chairman. They also criticised the ECP for not taking action against the alleged vote rigging.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Shagufta Tasnim, a PTI worker, said Khan was being missed.