Imran claims rigging in NA-122

LAHORE: Expressing dissatisfaction over the NA-122 by-election result, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said a special cell had been set up to gather proof of rigging which would be presented before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Addressing a gathering of party workers at the PTI election office in Garhi Shahu in connection with celebrations over the victory in PP-147, Imran said nothing could change in Pakistan unless the ECP worked honestly, adding that he was assessing the entire by-election result.
Coming down hard on the PML-N, Imran said the ruling party used all the state resources to rig the elections but despite all tactics, it could not defeat the PTI candidate with a noticeable margin.
He alleged that the PML-N even tried to win the sympathies of a former army chief while gifting him a BMW car which was returned.
Imran said Aleem Khan and Shoaib Siddiqui contested the by-polls against two governments — one sitting in Punjab and the other in the Centre. He said despite the heavy use of state resources, funding and all the tactics, the PTI bagged more votes than the PML-N which clearly indicated that the PML-N had been rejected.He said two party workers were killed during the by-election but the PTI contested the polls rather than escaping from the field.
Imran also stated that the PML-N’s politics was dependent on its own ‘umpire’ while the PTI drew support from the nation. He said only a transparent and independent Election Commission could guarantee a changed Pakistan.
The PTI chief said he had no hidden interest in contesting the NA-122 by-election and the party took the decision just to bring facts to the surface and contribute in the struggle to purge Pakistan of corruption, injustices and abuse of power.
He said his party would not award tickets to those who didn’t work wholeheartedly for the PTI candidates. Imran said he would award tickets only on merit, no matter how many people invited him to lunch or dinner and took ‘selfies’ with him.
Imran said his party had always raised voice against all injustices whether it was imposition of taxes, dictation of IMF or corruption of rulers, adding that the PTI would continue exposing the government’s wrongdoings at every forum.
The gathering was also addressed by PTI Punjab Organiser Chaudhry Sarwar, PTI ticket holder from NA-122 Abdul Aleem Khan and newly-elected MPA Shoaib Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion. PTI Central Organizer Jehangir Tareen was also present on the occasion.