ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) will challenge the results of the February 8 elections in the Supreme Court, said party’s founder Imran Khan during an informal talk with the media in Adiala jail.
A day earlier, the party demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing him of dereliction of his constitutional and legal duties and playing the role of a facilitator in what it termed as ‘poll fraud.’
The PTI further insisted that not only should CEC Raja step down, but the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should also tender their resignations.
It alleged that they colluded to strip PTI-backed candidates of the mandate bestowed upon them by the people in the February 8 general elections, marred by widespread reports of vote rigging.
The PTI chief dismissed any notion of an alliance with either PML-N, PPP or MQM-P and instructed Secretary Information PTI Raoof Hassan him to gather all political parties except three to raise their voice against the alleged rigging.
Referring to the next prime minister of Pakistan, Imran said a decision has not been taken yet regarding the nomination of the next prime minister and will “consider it”. However, the PTI founder nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the slot of K-P chief minister.
He maintained that the rigged elections would have a negative effect on the economy and the country’s stability and free and fair polls are the only solution to the dire circumstances the country finds itself in.
When asked about meeting with certain senior officials, Imran denied any meeting between him and officials within the premises of Adiala jail.
‘Peoples mandate has been stolen’
Former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in an informal talk, said even international media is raising questions over the recent elections and calling them rigged.
He said the PTI is not celebrating its win but asking the powers that be not to steal the mandate of the people. “Even those who won are not accepting the election results.”
Qureshi urged the chief justice to take notice and said he, along with Imran, has been kept in solitary confinement after the elections.
He said political stability cannot be achieved after the controversial elections and urged all parties who had their mandate stolen to unite.
This is not the first time PTI has demanded resignation from CEC as PTI founding chairman Imran Khan has demanded Raja’s resignation on several occasions in the past as well on the allegation that he had joined hands with the PML-N. Imran had even shown mistrust in CEC after his party’s resounding victory on 15 seats in the by-elections held in 20 constituencies of Punjab in 2022.
On Sunday, the PTI spokesperson demanded the immediate resignation of CEC and members of the election watchdog, “who worked as main facilitators in the daylight robbery on public mandate.”
Hasan said that the CEC and ECP members did not have any right and moral justification to say any more on their position since “they completely failed in performing their constitutional and legal duties”.
