Barrister Asjad Saeed, counsel for National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told the election tribunal on Tuesday that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and an enquiry commission had confirmed that the elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner in NA-122 constituency.
The tribunal comprising Justice (r) Kazim Ali Malik was hearing the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan Challenging election of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122.
In his final arguments, Barrister Asjad submitted that the tribunal constituted a local enquiry commission comprising former sessions judge Ghulam Hussain Awan for inspection of NA-122 election record on an application filed by Imran Khan.
“The commission physically checked all election record in the presence of parties and declared Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as successful with a margin of 8851 votes in its report,” he added.
Similarly, the tribunal ordered NADRA to carry out thumb verification of votes polled in the constituency on an application filed by Imran Khan and the authority had submitted its report on the issue, he said.
Asjad argued that chairman NADRA admitted before the tribunal that 97 votes polled in 2013 general elections were valid. He further said that NADRA and the local commission carried out their responsibilities in an independent manner and both confirmed that elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner in the constituency.
Until now, no evidence emerged which proves rigging and makes Imran Khan’s allegations valid, he added.
The tribunal after hearing arguments at length adjourned the matter till July 1 and ordered Ayaz Sadiq’s counsel to continue his arguments on next date of hearing.
