An election tribunal Wednesday adjourned PTI’s petition against alleged transfer of votes from NA-122 Lahore constituency till January 22, directing the lawyers of both sides to present their arguments on next date.
PTI leader Aleem Khan lost to PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the October 2015 by-elections held after de-seating of the latter by an election tribunal on a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan challenging his victory in 2013 general election. During the proceedings, Aleem Khan’s counsel told the tribunal that rigging happened at massive level as some 30,000 votes were moved out of NA-122 prior to the by-polls.
He alleged that since Ayaz Sadiq had won the polls by rigging, therefore, the court declare the election results as null and void. Ayaz Sadiq’s counsel, however, denied the allegations and said that elections could not be annulled due to false accusations.
It may be mentioned that Aleem Khan in his petition cited that the record of Pakistan Election Commission of Pakistan which showed that 26,000 new voters were registered and 4,600 votes were transferred during last two years from the constituency. Only 812 voters personally confirmed that they transferred their votes out of the constituency whereas votes of others were shifted against their will.