Tag: rigging

  • ‘We will not hold secret dialogue with military establishment’, says Ali Amin Gandapur

    ‘We will not hold secret dialogue with military establishment’, says Ali Amin Gandapur

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur said on Wednesday that he was part of the panel nominated by founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan authorised to hold dialogue with the military establishment.

    “We won’t keep anything [regarding negotiations with the establishment] secret,” Mr Gandapur told reporters after attending a Labour Day event at a hotel in Peshawar.

    “Imran Khan formed a committee and gave us permission to hold talks with the establishment,” he said.

    He also said he is happy to see Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mulana Fazlur Rehman speaking the truth about election rigging.

    He also criticised in a sarcastic way that the JUI-F chief was part of almost every government, therefore, he will reveal secrets.

    He stated that Fazl first claimed that he ousted Imran Khan’s government but later blamed former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for it, so he should speak more about it.

  • PTI claims intelligence agencies rigged by-polls, announce protest

    PTI claims intelligence agencies rigged by-polls, announce protest

    After the recently held by-elections on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders alleged that intelligence agencies were involved in rigging polls.

    The party termed April 21 as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan while urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withhold the notifications of results.

    Announcing a series of protests starting from Friday, the PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, addressing a press conference, said, “[The] day of election is considered an accountability day, and people cast their votes with great zeal. However, on April 21, open and blatant violations of law were observed. The magnitude of the rigging and violation of law has never been observed in the history of Pakistan. Gates of polling stations were closed, and at some polling stations, more votes were polled than the total registered votes.”

    The PTI Chairman, accompanied by other senior members of the party, stated that in one polling station in Gujrat, only 120 votes were cast but three boxes of ballot papers were seen.

    PTI’s Omar Ayub said that pre-poll rigging began with the suspension of the internet. He also showed a letter from the RO of NA-8 Bajaur to the DRO, claiming that the RO alleged that an intelligence official had beaten the staff.

    “We will start protests, along with other parties, next Friday across the country,” said Ayub.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won a majority of seats in by-polls held on nearly two dozen national and provincial seats on Sunday.

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said that his party had decided to boycott by-elections and will be holding protests in different cities from April 25.

    “Just like in 2018 elections, the mandate of people has been stolen in elections of 2024. We decided that our party would not accept the results of recent elections because this parliament is more of a representative of the establishment rather than the people,” said the chief of JUI-F.

    By now, major political parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, JUI-F, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have rejected the results of February 8 elections, making the general elections controversial.

    “This is our narrative and we have decided to move forward with it. We will start this movement named ‘Awami Assembly’ from April 25 from Balochistan’s Pishin,” said the JUI-F leader. The second ‘Awami Aseembly’ will begin from Karachi on May 2 and the third phase would be in Peshawar on May 9.

    He also said that his party is in contact with other political parties, “so that a united opinion of people comes forward.”
    He criticized the Elections Commission of Pakistan for neglecting its legal obligations and accused the security agencies of overstepping their boundaries.

  • IHC grants permission to PTI for rally in Islamabad

    IHC grants permission to PTI for rally in Islamabad

    The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed the administration authorities of the capital city to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to conduct a rally.

    Previously, district authorities denied permission to PTI for staging a protest against alleged poll-rigging in the general elections 2024 in Islamabad citing security risks.

    “One’s right of assembly cannot be taken away,” IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said while hearing PTI’s petition seeking the court’s permission for staging the rally. The justice emphasized that public gatherings are for everyone and it should not come under any restrictions.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad had warned PTI to avoid public gathering without getting a formal approval from relevant authorities.

    Furthermore, according to PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, the party has moved up the date for holding the rally to April 6.

  • PTI to launch movement against alleged rigging in February 8 Polls

    PTI to launch movement against alleged rigging in February 8 Polls

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser said on Tuesday that his party is planning to launch a street movement against the “stealing” of their mandate by their opponents in the February 8 elections.
    “We will unite all political forces and will launch a movement within the law and Constitution,” said Qaiser while speaking to media persons in Islamabad on Tuesday.
    The PTI leader said that they are planning to take to the streets in all provinces so their demands are met, adding that they will snatch their rights. “Our movement will continue and will bring together all political forces,” he said, adding that they will forge an alliance.

    The former National Assembly (NA) speaker stated that they will peacefully protest because they don’t trust the government led by Shehbaz Sharif, which they consider fake.

  • PTI leader Salman Akram Raja arrested in Lahore

    PTI leader Salman Akram Raja arrested in Lahore

    Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leader and lawyer Salman Akram Raja has been arrested by the police near PTI’s Jail Road office, for participating in the party’s call for nationwide protest against electoral rigging. Salman participated as a PTI backed independent candidate in general elections

    “They’re arrested me illegally, and I’m with the public, we will continue raising my voice for truth” he said while being arrested

    PTI yesterday had called for nationwide protests against electoral rigging.

  • JUI-F opposes rigging of elections, even if it’s in party’s favour, says Fazlur Rehman

    JUI-F opposes rigging of elections, even if it’s in party’s favour, says Fazlur Rehman

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday that he is strictly against political engineering and rigging of elections, adding that his party will oppose this “heinous crime.”

    While addressing a two-day general council meeting, Fazlur Rehman said that “rigging of elections is the most heinous crime. We would not allow it even if it is in our favour, adding that his party has differences with state institutions, but it doesn’t want permanent rivalry with them.

    “We would continue to speak against wrongs. We know how to protect our mandate, and we will never tolerate rigging at any cost,” the former-ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief said.

    Fazal stated this after he was chosen as JUI-F central chief and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri as general secretary for another five-year term.

    The upcoming election on February 8 was also on the agenda of a two-day central general council huddle.

  • ‘Free and fair’ elections, demands Khan

    ‘Free and fair’ elections, demands Khan

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Sunday demanded free and fair election and revealed that he expects match-fixing in Punjab by-elections.

    PTI took out countrywide protests against rising inflation at Khan’s call on Sunday. Khan addressed his supporters via video-link.

    On Monday, Khan thanked his supporters for coming out across Pakistan yesterday, especially those “who braved difficulties & in some cities rain, to join our protest against massive inflation & clearly reject Imported Govt of crooks imposed by US regime change conspiracy”.

    No free lunch, warns Khan

    Imran Khan warned that Pakistan can become the next Sri Lanka. He said that Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has asked for the support of the United States (US) for the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. “I want to tell Miftah Ismail and Shehbaz Sharif that the Americans have a philosophy, which is that there is no free lunch. Everything has a price. The US will extract our sovereignty as a price.” Khan said that the new government seems ready to pay this price.

    Recognising Israel part of foreign conspiracy agenda: Khan

    Khan also mentioned Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Saleem Mandviwalla’s statement on the potential of Pakistan having diplomatic ties with Israel. “This is part of the same agenda due to which there was a regime change. The agenda is to follow what Israel, India and the US want,” said Khan.

    However, Mandviwalla clarified on Sunday that his words were being taken out of context. “I never wanted Pakistan to further ties with Israel or indulge in trade with it,” said Mandviwalla, adding that recognising Israel was not in Pakistan’s interests.

    Match-fixing in Punjab by-polls on the cards

    “We have to struggle together. Get ready. I will soon give another call for protest, which will continue until we are given a date for free and fair elections. Not just elections but free and fair elections,” said Khan.

    He reiterated that there is a plan of rigging by-elections in Punjab through ‘match-fixing’. By-polls in Punjab are set to take place next month in July.

    Imran Khan’s full address can be seen here:

  • After lawyers, journalists also resort to violence after alleged rigged election

    After lawyers, journalists also resort to violence after alleged rigged election

    The National Press Club (NPC) elections were held on January 28. The group, ‘Journalist Panel’ swept the National Press Club (NPC) elections held for the year 2022 by securing all 11 executive posts.

    However, opponent panels boycotted the vote count, alleging massive vote fraud, and asked for conducting a vote count under police supervision.

    The election results turned into a violent situation at Islamabad Press Club. The winning journalist panel got into a fight with all other groups.

    All other groups argued that the election was rigged and rigging was the reason the journalists’ panel won.

    In the video, the journalist can be seen creating a ruckus and having a physical fight.

    As per reports, the video of the alleged rigging has come to the surface. It was for the first time that the votes casted were counted in the presence of police in the Islamabad Press Club.

    Apart from a large number of independent contenders, there were four panels in the contest, but the competition was between the Journalist panel and the alliance of three PFUJs and three former Presidents of the Azad Journalist Panel.

    In December 2019, a violent protest by lawyers at Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) occurred, during which three patients lost their lives.

  • PM Imran asks for electoral reforms, again

    Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter on Saturday to say that his government wants to “bring transparency and credibility to our elections”. The NA-249 by-election has become controversial after rigging allegations against the winning Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

    In a series of tweets, the PM said: “All parties are crying foul and claiming rigging. The same happened in Daska and in Senate elections. In fact, apart from the 1970 election, in every election claims of rigging have raised doubts over the credibility of election results.”

    He further added, “In 2013 there were 133 NA constituencies’ disputes before election tribunals. We asked for an examination of just 4 constituencies’ votes & in all 4 riggings was established. But it took us a yr & a 126-days dharna to get a Judicial Commission that found over 40 faults in the conduct of elections.” PM added that unfortunately no substantive reforms were put in place. He tweeted that the use technology Electronic Voting Machines “are the only answer to reclaim credibility of elections”.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has now invited the Opposition to sit with the government and select from EVM [Electronic Voting Machines] models that are available to us in order to “restore our elections credibility”.

    The prime minister said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is determined. “We will put in place reforms in our electoral system through the use of technology to bring transparency and credibility to our elections and strengthen our democracy”.

    Miftah Ismail writes to ECP

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail has written a letter to the chief election commissioner seeking a vote recount in the NA-249 by-election held on April 29 in Karachi.

    In the letter, Miftah wrote: “We did not receive results from more than 30 polling stations. We have serious concerns about the behaviour of some presiding officers.” He also added that many Form 45s were not signed and also asked for forensic audit of Form-45 with Whatsapp/RTS. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fixed the hearing for voting recount on May 4.