Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari Sunday criticised the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) government for once again planning to rig the forthcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) by “planting” their federal minister Birjees Tahir as the governor for the region.
“This is a clear case of pre poll rigging by PML-N,” Mazari said, pointing out that PML-N has “never played without having their own umpires and without fixing matches.”
Meanwhile, the verdict on the alleged rigging in NA-122 is likely to face further delay as PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday filed another application in the election tribunal for the verification of electors’ thumb impressions.
Khan’s counsel argued that the inspection held by the commission suggested that there were a lot of discrepancies in the record in terms of ballot papers. He said forensic verification of thumb impressions through NADRA was necessary.
Opposing the application, speaker’s counsel Barrister Asad Saeed said the petitioner (Imran Khan) was using delaying tactics by making needless requests. He said the request for the verification of thumb impressions should have been filed along with the application for inspection of the record.
The tribunal-member, Kazim Ali Malik, adjourned hearing till Feb 21. However, he announced that he would no more hold the court in the building of Punjab election commissioner owing to security reasons.
In the meanwhile, speaking after the hours-long review meeting about Provincial Growth Strategy that was chaired by PTI Chairman Imran Khan at KP House Islamabad, former Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, who recently quit PML-N and joined PTI, said that internal differences within the party are a bigger threat than the conspiracies of the opponents.
“There is a need to end lack of unity in the party (PTI),” he said, adding that PTI was committed to resolving problems faced by common folks and it would continue to make efforts for elimination of poverty in the country.
