Imran unveils 2000-page white paper on poll rigging

Published August 21, 2013
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan unveils white paper on poll rigging during a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan unveils white paper on poll rigging during a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday released his party's white paper consisting of 2,000 pages over alleged rigging during the May 11 general elections.

Addressing a press conference, the PTI chief said that if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) failed to conduct free, fair and transparent by-elections – scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 22, then the commission would itself be responsible for the consequences.

He said the party was not prepared for any alleged rigging during the May 11 polls as the election process was conducted under an independent judiciary and Election Commission.

Khan said around 400 petitions were filed in the election tribunals over rigging in the general elections, adding that out of aforementioned petitions 64 were filed by his party.

The PTI chief termed the role of some Returning Offices (RO) during the general elections as “shameful” saying one of the ROs had admitted to corruption during the polling process.

The cricket legend-turned-politician further said that his party admitted results of the general elections and did not want re-polling. However, he added the PTI would confront rigging attempts if electoral system was not fixed before the next elections.

“We want democracy to flourish in the country,” he said and pointed out that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, the prevailing prime minister of Pakistan, had delivered his victory speech at 10:30pm when only 15 per cent of vote count was completed.

“We don’t want to derail the system. We only want re-count on four constituencies through thumb impression ……so that culprits could be punished,” said Khan.

“We could have shut all the cities through sit-ins and protest rallies after the May 11 elections. But we exercised restraint for the sake of democracy,” he added.

The PTI chief questioned as why and to whom Nawaz Sharif appealed for getting a clear majority at 10:30pm when the polling had already been stopped.

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