Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) voiced strong objections to the February 8 elections on Friday while stressing that the scale of rigging would leave an indelible mark on the country’s history.
In a press conference held on Friday in Islamabad, PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan cited examples of rigging during the polls and said many PTI candidates claimed victory with Form 45s in hand, only to later be declared runners-up in Form 47, the consolidated result of a constituency.
The discrepancy raised concerns about the integrity of the election process, he added.
PTI, refusing to concede, alleged that the elections were neither free nor fair and announced plans for nationwide peaceful protests against the perceived rigging.
Hassan highlighted a substantial gap in votes between Form 45 and Form 47, questioning the transparency of the electoral process.
Salman Akram Raja, contested from NA-128, criticized electoral authorities, accusing them of rigging from polling stations to the RO office.
Raja claimed that changes were made to the people’s votes under the cover of night, further alleging that PTI candidates faced restrictions on campaigning.
Raja also noted the symbolic challenges faced by PTI, as the party’s electoral symbol, the ‘bat,’ was reportedly stripped, causing inconvenience for voters.
Nevertheless, he praised the resilience of the electorate who remembered the signs and cast their votes accordingly.
Rehana Dar, a PTI candidate who lost to PML-N’s Khawaja Asif from NA-71, revealed she experienced torture and demanded justice, expressing readiness for a re-election.
She vowed to file a case against alleged malpractices, describing the election as unprecedented in her experience.
Shandana Gulzar claimed that the PTI secured 1.25 million votes from Karachi alone, highlighting the need for a thorough examination.
PTI leader Seemabia Tahir alleged the expulsion of PTI’s polling agents from various stations, questioning the fairness of the electoral process.
She also brought attention to PTI senior leader Yasmeen Rashid’s defeat against PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif in NA 130, pointing out the apparent shift in results overnight.
