As PTI jubilates, Rafique roars he’s not disqualified

LAHORE (Web Desk) – In a terse response to Imran Khan’s press conference over the election tribunal’s decision on rigging in NA-125, a visibly angry Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Monday the rigging allegations have yet to be proved and that he has not yet been disqualified.

Rafique, who stands de-seated after the issuance of order for a re-election NA 125 (and PP-155), told a hurriedly-called news conference that the PTI chief had presented a “fake, unverified order”.

“Khan Saab presented an unverified NADRA report. It seems as if he isn’t done with his container-habit yet,” he told media persons at the Press Club.

Rafique termed the tribunal’s decision partial, saying, “It just declared the NA-125 result void owing to the poor performance of presiding officers and returning officer. It has not found any evidence of rigging.”

Earlier, Imran Khan said he was very happy with the tribunal’s decision for conduct of re-election in NA-125 and PP-155.

Earlier after the tribunal gave its decision Rafique said the election tribunal’s decision to conduct re-election in NA-125 was not in accordance with the law and constitution.

He went on to say that the tribunal has not awarded me any punishment which is an evidence to my innocence, adding, the voters of NA-125 have already given the verdict in PMLN’s favor during the cantonment board polls on April 25.

Earlier an Election Tribunal ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct a re-election in NA-125 after reaching a decision on rigging in last general elections from the constituency.

The verdict was reserved by the tribunal on April 30 when the lawyers had formally completed the arguments in the case.

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique was declared winner from this constituency during 2013 general elections, while PTI’s candidate Hamid Khan had challenged the election result.

The tribunal has also ordered to hold re-election in PP-155, which falls under the same constituency.

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) was ordered to verify the votes in seven polling stations out of the total 265 polling stations previously.

In 2013’s general elections PMLN candidate Khawaja Saad Rafiq had bagged 123094 votes who was followed by the PTI candidate PTI Hamid Khan with 83190 votes.

PMLN’s Mian Naseer Ahmad was elected from PP-155 where PTI’s Hafiz Farhat had challenged the result.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had blamed the winning party for manipulating the poll results immediately after the elections, has been time and again asking the government to verify the ballots in the four constituencies including NA-125.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan had led a long march to Islamabad in August 2014 to demand an inquiry into the allegations of rigging which was followed by a 126 days long sit-in of his followers.

Earlier in April this year the ruling party, PMLN, and PTI agreed to constitute a judicial commission to investigate the allegations of rigging which started functioning in the mid of last month.