LAHORE: While recording his statement before an election tribunal in Lahore on Saturday over alleged rigging in the NA-122 constituency, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's allegations against him are baseless.

He rejected the allegations levelled against him and said that the NA-122 constituency had seen fair and transparent polls. The NA speaker added that even after a re-count was carried out, he had won 8,500 votes more than Imran.

Ayaz Sadiq had defeated Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 and the PTI had challenged the results. NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the party had sought a recount and verification of voters' thumb impressions.

Later, speaking to media representatives, Sadiq said: "The case is sub judice, I am not the judge nor is Imran Khan. Justice Kazim Ali Malik will decide and that decision will be based on evidence not hopes".

Also read: Plea against NA-122 commission rejected

Earlier this month, the election tribunal had turned down Imran's plea for action against a commission that inspected records of the 2013 election. The PTI chief had also sought re-inspection of the record of certain polling stations in the constituency won by Sadiq. Disposing of the application, tribunal’s member Kazim Ali Malik had said it was premature for the PTI leader to seek re-inspection.

Know more: Claim, counter-claim by govt, PTI about recount for NA-122

Last month, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had claimed that victory margin of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had ‘increased’ after a vote recount in Lahore’s NA-122 constituency.

Making a counter-claim, PTI had said that ‘polling fraud has been exposed’ after the vote recount, and had urged the National Assembly to ‘prepare resignation’ of the speaker.

Reacting to allegations levelled by PTI chief that some 30,000 bogus votes had been found in the polling bags during the scrutiny of votes, Sadiq had advised Imran Khan to wait for the official verdict of the election tribunal.

Take a look: Commission confirms irregularities in NA-122