News
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Imran urges CJP, CEC to probe rigging allegations* PTI chief says probe into poll fraud will help save Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Friday urged the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the chief election commissioner (CEC) to probe allegations of vote fraud during the recently held election.
Making a video-link address to the thousands of PTI protesters at D Chowk, Imran said that the voters who had turned in record numbers in the polls had staged sit-ins in different parts of the country, as their mandate had been stolen.
Imran Khan urged Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to order a thorough investigation into the poll rigging allegations to save the democratic process in the country.
“Since the returning officers were working under your control, this is your responsibility to probe the allegations. This election is being termed as RO’s election. This never happened in the history of Pakistan that ROs were blamed. If such ROs who were involved in rigging are not punished, who would take part in the next elections,” he argued.
He said it was not only the PTI which was crying foul but all political parties were levelling allegations of massive vote fraud and all wanted a fair probe into the allegations.
“We are sure you would investigate the matter for the sake of the future of Pakistan. This would help to make future polls transparent. The ECP should also take action,” he said while addressing the CJP.
Reminding of the PTI’s contribution during the judges’ movement, Imran Khan said that his party workers had struggled for the reinstatement of the sacked judges. “We did not come on roads for individuals. We wanted to strengthen the institutions. Probe into poll fraud would help save Pakistan. The voters who had come to vote are holding spontaneous protests,” he asserted.
Khan said that he wanted thumb-impression rechecking in only four constituencies as a litmus test to evaluate the rigging allegations and to set the polling process straight.
Despite scorching heat wave across Punjab, PTI workers gathered at D Chowk in thousands to protest against the alleged rigging on various constituencies in the general election and demanded recounting of votes by matching thumb impressions.
Thousands of party workers, including a large number of youth, were waving PTI flags and carrying placards inscribed with slogans condemning rigging in elections and snatching genuine mandate given to PTI by the voters.
On this occasion, special poems were recited by the party workers, praising the leadership qualities of Imran Khan. They also criticised the election commission for alleged rigging in election.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson met Imran Khan and inquired about his health, while several others political leaders also met Khan at his residence.
Sources said during the meeting, the US ambassador congratulated Imran Khan on his party’s victory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
While talking to the media, Olson said, “I’m here to inquire about Imran Khan’s health.” He said that transparent elections were the victory of democracy in Pakistan. Olson said that his government was looking forward and hoping that the ruling PML-N and others would succeed in maintaining peace in the country and sort out major issues, including terrorism, corruption and load shedding faced by the nation. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk