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PTI DECRIES ‘HISTORIC VOTE FRAUD’; SAYS 85 NA SEATS ‘SNATCHED’
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Saturday, 17 February, 2024 I 6 Shaban, 1445
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SAYS IT HAS COMPILED DATA FOR 46 SEATS, WILL COMPILE DATA FOR REMAINING SEATS WITHIN 24-HOURS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 230 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
EVIDENCE COMPRISING FORM 45, VIDEOS, SHARED WITH LOCAL, FOREIGN MEDIA
PTI to sit in opposition in Centre, Punjab on Imran’s directives: Saif
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
TI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan on Friday said the February 8 general elections would be remembered due to the “biggest vote fraud” in Pakistan’s history against the party and its candidates. The PTI addressed a press conference in Islamabad on Friday on the alleged rigging. Nearly 60.6 million Pakistanis voted in the country’s 12th general elections last week. However, the poll day was marred by a day-long suspension of cellular services and allegations of rigging, prompting criticism from several countries. Foreign and domestic observers and stakeholders raised concerns over alleged electoral interference, including the detention of political activists. They emphasised that all accusations of irregularities, manipulation, and fraudulent activities warrant comprehensive investigation while political parties such as the PTI, Jamaat-i-Islami and Grand Demo-
cratic Alliance. “According to our estimates, only 92 [National Assembly seats] have been given to us out of 177 seats which were supposed to be ours. And 85 seats have been taken away from us fraudulently,” Hasan said, adding that the party was taking constitutional and legal steps in this regard. “We have verified data about 46 seats and it is being compiled for 39 seats,” he said. The PTI spokesperson said the party had three ways to ascertain alleged rigging in the polls, saying that there were discrepancies between the Form 45 and the Form 47. Hasan further said that there was also a huge difference in the numbers of votes polled for National Assembly and provincial assembly seats. He said that the number of rejected votes, in certain cases, exceeded the margin of victory. PTI’s Seemabia Tahir took the stage and played a video of alleged rigging in the polls. “We got 1.25m votes in Karachi [but] we did not get a single seat. Jamaat-i-Islami received 700,000 votes and not a single National Assembly
ISLAMABAD: Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced on Friday that, following the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan, the party has decided to sit in opposition both at the Centre and in the province of Punjab. The decision was disclosed during a press conference held after a meeting between a PTI delegation and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Khan Sherpao in Peshawar. Saif conveyed that the PTI is engaging with various political parties as per Imran Khan’s directives. He expressed concerns about election results, noting that there were instances where individuals who were expected to win by significant margins had their results reversed, posing a substantial challenge in the long run. “Future generations have to suffer the consequences of these conditions. On the instructions of PTI founder, we have decided to sit in opposition at the Center and in Punjab,” stated Saif.
seat in Karachi,” she said. “In Punjab, we got 13.6m votes and we were given 55 seats. This is a joke with the people of Pakistan,” she said. Showing graphics on a large screen, she said that at 3am on Feb 9, the PTI had won 154 seats in the National Assembly while the PMLN and PPP had won 47 each. She said that the party was winning 42 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, of which some were stolen and the party was handed 37.
Highlighting the escalating political tensions, Saif mentioned protests by Jamaat-e-Islami and the announcement of a protest by JUI-F for the following day. He added that Mehmood Khan Achakzai had also expressed his dissatisfaction with the current political situation. Saif stated, “Today, Aftab Sherpao listened to us… we have discussed a permanent solution to this issue in accordance with democratic traditions.” He emphasised that the crux of the problem was economic instability and that the ongoing election crisis could potentially lead to political instability. Qaumi Watan Party Provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan, speaking at the press conference, expressed his party’s objections to the February 8 elections. He noted that the political situation was becoming increasingly complex, and the PTI’s initiative to discuss these issues was a step in the right direction. “We will discuss the matter with our party and then give an action plan,” said Sikandar Hayat Khan. STAFF REPORT
“From Islamabad, we were winning three and all three were stolen from us,” he said. “In Punjab we were winning 115 and 55 were given to us. In Balochistan we were getting four we got one,” she said. Lawyer Salman Akram Raja, who contested the polls with the PTI’s backing, said that the “rigging” which happened during the elections took place at the office of the returning officer (RO).
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Fazl backtracks on no trust move remarks, says took ‘Faiz’s name by mistake’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PHC approves Ayub’s transit bail PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
The Peshawar High Court on Friday granted transit bail to Umar Ayub, a Prime Ministerial candidate facing a plethora of legal challenges. The decision comes after a hearing on petitions filed by Ayub, where his lawyer highlighted the staggering 24 cases registered against him across various cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Gujranwala. During the hearing, the court deliberated on the appropriate duration for the bail, considering the extensive legal proceedings ahead. Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, acknowledging the considerable time required to address each case individually. Despite the lawyer’s plea for additional safeguards against potential arrests in supplementary cases, the Chief Justice affirmed the High Court’s bail grant, ensuring Ayub’s protection from detention. Under the court’s directive, Ayub is obliged to appear before the respective courts within the stipulated onemonth period. The decision marks a pivotal moment in Ayub’s legal battle, providing him with temporary relief amidst the ongoing legal scrutiny.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday “clarified” his statement about former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and exdirector general Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed in which he had accused both of orchestrating the downfall of the PTI government led by Imran Khan in 2022. “I was opposed to the idea of tabling a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan,” the JUI-F chief had said in an interview with a private TV channel while referring to the events unfolded in 2022 as the country saw for the first time in its history the ouster of a prime minister through a no-confidence vote. Maulana Fazl was among top opposition leaders who spearheaded the efforts to oust the PTI founder under the banner of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). In a statement issued today, Fazl provided an explanation about his earlier statement, saying that he took Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed’s name by “mistake”. However, he maintained his stance on General (retd) Bajwa and Gen (retd) Faiz’s alleged involvement in election rigging during the 2018 elections. “This matter should be consigned to history instead of being discussed more,” he asserted.
“I have told everything and that is enough. We wanted to remove the PTI government through noconfidence motion. PDM, PPP and ANP used to have daily meetings. General Bajwa has had many meetings with me alone,” he added. Talking about the recently-held elections and meeting with the PTI delegation, Fazl said that transparent elections did not take place anywhere including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “Despite our differences, PTI delegation came and held a positive meeting. But we emphasised [with them] that rigging did take place in K-P,” he added. He further said that he will not give priority to personal grudges over national goals. “Differences are there but they are not at a personal level but rather at the party level,” he concluded. The clarification from the JUI-
F leader follows intense scrutiny and speculation over his initial remarks, which had stirred controversy within Pakistan’s political circles. PPP’s Faisal Karim Kundi said that the JUI-F chief had benefited the most from the no-confidence vote against then-premier Imran Khan. He added that Fazl could have stopped the no-confidence move as he was the head of the PDM. Replying to Fazl’s allegation that his party’s mandate was stolen, Kundi said, “If it was stolen, then who was it given to? To the same delegation who visited him yesterday”. JUI-F chief’s initial remarks caught political analysts off guard, given his reputation as a staunch supporter of the establishment. Some speculate that his comments about Bajwa and Hameed stem from his sheer frustration over his recent defeat in general elections.
PML-N blames Imran for ‘seeking US interference’ on polls rigging allegations LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb stated on Friday that former premier Imran Khan inviting the US to interfere in the country’s elections goes against Pakistan’s sovereignty. Addressing a press conference along with party leader Ataullah Tarar, she questioned where Imran’s slogan of “Absolutely Not. We are not slaves” went when he urged the US to adopt a tough stance on ‘rigging’ in the recent general elections in Pakistan. Marriyum said that if anyone has objections to election results, they should approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). She criticised the propaganda being spread regarding non-definite results in the media. She emphasised that while they are not the spokespersons for the ECP, these are the laws. Furthermore, she accused the PTI of creating unnecessary “chaos and spreading anarchy” during the elections. Citing instances when similar situations occurred, the PML-N leader said that “the PTI was busy spreading chaos when the Chinese president was visiting; when electricity projects were being inaugurated”. “The RTS failed in 2018, and the PTI is talking about election rigging today?”. The PML-N leader argued that the PTI’s mindset is to spread chaos. “If they are experts in anything, it is in causing unrest, spreading turmoil, and economically destabilising the country,” she added. “Has any other party member asked for another country to interfere in our elections,” asked Marriyum. “This means you are a US agent, and you receive foreign funding from them,” the PML-N spokesperson said. She clearly told the media that “the PTI has completely lost” the general elections and if the party has any evidence of wrongdoing, they should approach the electoral watchdog as per the law. Marriyum further stated that there was no election fraud, and it takes time for Form 45 to be completed. She accused the PTI of sharing fake screenshots of Form 45s on social media. She concluded by stating that if there are objections to the elections, holding a press conference on an international media platform or a hotel is not the way to address the issue. She condemned the act of ‘inviting foreign interference’ in elections. US should adopt tough stance: Imran A day earlier, Imran demanded that the US adopts a tough stance on “rigging” in the recent general elections in Pakistan. After meeting Imran in Adiala Jail, PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, accompanied by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, told the media that the former premier had pushed the US to take a tougher stance on the recent general polls. He further quoted Imran as saying that the US should be more vocal considering the manner in which the PTI was ousted from the polls. Barrister Saif said the PTI founding chairman believed that the US had supported the governments of dictators and corrupt people, but now it was presented with an opportunity to raise its voice on Pakistan’s election “rigging”. The statement came a day after the US Department of State said it was appropriate for the Pakistani state to investigate the allegations of rigging in the general elections. US questions conduct of elections The United States called into question the “undue restrictions” put in place during Pakistan’s electoral process and expressed concern about allegations of vote-rigging, but pledged to work with whoever forms the next government. Candidates loyal to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan were ahead as vote counting dragged on following Thursday’s election. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was faring better than expected despite a crackdown targeting the party, but the next government was still likely to be formed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after a spell of political horse-trading. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington looked forward to “timely, complete results that reflect the will of the Pakistani people”, as he listed the US’ concerns with the process. “We join credible international and local election observers in their assessment that these elections included undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly,” Miller said in a statement.
Political crisis may lead to imposition of martial law or emergency, warns Pir Pagara HYDERABAD AGENCIES
Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi, popularly known as Pir Pagara, the chief of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), issued a stark warning on Friday, predicting that the coalition government would collapse within 10 months, possibly leading to an imposition of emergency or martial law in the country. Speaking at a protest sit-in against alleged election rigging at Jamshoro Bypass, Pir Pagara stated that the GDA’s stance wasn’t merely about contesting the recent elections but about unveiling the systemic irregularities that plagued the electoral process. “We were not interested in the elections because the results were ready three months ago,” Pir Pagara declared. “Today, they have
been exposed nationally and internationally.” Emphasising that their protest solely targeted election fraud, the GDA chief underlined the significance of the military in ensuring the security of the country, stating, “The army is our own, and we cannot even think of going against it.” He warned that removing the army from the equation would plunge the nation into a state akin to Palestine, hinting at the precariousness of the current political landscape. Pir Pagara defended former prime minister Imran Khan against accusations of corruption, asserting, “If he is a thief, then we all are thieves.” He highlighted the broader systemic issues in governance, suggesting a collective responsibility for past transgressions. Acknowledging the political prowess of PTI supporters during the recently held elec-
tions, he commended their efforts, indicating a growing disillusionment with the prevailing judicial and governmental mechanisms. “If you don’t give justice, then people find out another way to seek justice,” he remarked. Expressing concern over the absence of national-level leadership in Pakistan, Pir Pagara urged decision-makers to prioritise the country’s welfare over personal agendas. “The more a leader lies, the bigger leader he becomes,” he cautioned. Reflecting on the economic hardships faced by the middle class, the GDA chief lamented the rampant inflation, hinting at a looming crisis. Concluding his address with a prayer, Pir Pagara invoked divine intervention, imploring Allah SWT to grant wisdom to the nation’s leaders, military, and judiciary, urging them to safeguard the country’s interests and its people.