Monday, August 11, 2014

Pakistan: Iftikahr Ch, Sethi, Ramday, Ishtiaq Ahmed played key role in poll rigging

Giving details of planned rigging in May 2013 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday revealed that former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, ECP member Ishtiaq Ahmed, the then acting chief minister of Punjab Najam Sethi, Anwar Mehboob, Riaz Kayani and Justice (r) Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday played key role in the election rigging.
“After October 30, 2011, PML-N got scared as their turn was fixed. Afraid of Tsunami, they decided to bring their own umpires in ECP” he told a press conference.
Imran Khan revealed that Justice Riaz Kayani, who was lawyer of Ittefaq Foundry, was made provincial commissioner of the ECP.
He said Tariq Qadri came visited him and explained that Justice Kayani was playing the game for Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).
The PTI chief claimed that Punjab election commissioner Anwar Mehboob was transferred to Lahore and Tariq Qadri was transferred to Karachi in gross violation of election rules.
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Ramday also played major role in the rigging, he added.
“Ramday invited ROs on dinners where Iftikhar Chauhdry was the chief guest,” Imran said.
Imran Khan said prominent journalist Najam Sethi, who was elected acting chief minister of Punjab ahead of general elections, was the third player of rigging after former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Ramday.
DROs and ROs started doing their work after our Mar 23 rally in Lahore and changed polling schemes, Imran said.
Imran revealed that Anwar Mehboob did the real job of rigging after he fell off the lifter on May 8, 2013. “Anwar Mehboob, on May 9, said we need tens of thousands new ballot paper. These extra ballots were needed for five Punjab divisions which had 98 NA seats. Anwar Mehboob was asked how can we print new ballot papers. He replied that we have orders from top” the PTI chief stated.
Imran said additional ballot papers were printed by out sourcing them, adding that Shaukat Noor, a local printer in Lahore, admitted that he printed extra ballot papers. The PTI chairman also claimed that he has an eye witness who has seen vote stamping at the house of PML-N leader Khwaja Saad Rafiq.
“I had tactically asked for only four constituencies because I knew what happened, that's why we didn't ask for more seats,” he said.
Now vote correction is being done in COMSATs basement, Imran claimed.
Khan said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did his infamous victory speech at the behest of Justice (r) Ramday as he was controlling the Returning Officers. Ramday made Nawaz Sharif do the victory speech so that ROs get under influence. Meanwhile, only 15% vote count was done by then.
NADRA chief was fired as to send a signal to others, this is common tactic employed by Sharif monarchy, he claimed.
Giving details of the rewards given to those who allegedly favoured the ruling government in general elections, Imran Khan said Najam Sethi was rewarded for ’35 punctures’ and his tax was waived. Mustafa Ramday was made Attorney General in violation of rules and Asad Ramday is member of the National Assembly from Toba Tek Singh while his niece is MNA on a reserved seat.
Imran claimed that ex-CJP son Arsalan Iftikhar was made Vice Chairman of Balochistan Board of Investment (BBOI). This was admitted by Hasil Bizenjo that ex-CJP had requested for Arsalan's appointment. On the other hand, Anwar Mehboob and current secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiaq Ahmed have been given extensions.
Tariq Bajwa and Shahid Khan are also rewarded for their duties.
PTI chairman Imran Khan said “We have no hope to get justice in the kingdom of Sharif.”
He said Azadi March on August 14 will be peaceful and requested the Punjab civil servants to save this country for the sake of their children.
Imran said that history gives us an example that a better democracy brings more progress. “Martial law is not the solution of country’s problems” he added.
Address the police authorities, Imran said Punjab police should not work as servants of Sharif family. “I appeal to Qadri shb, all political parties and even disgruntled PML-N members to join us, we will have a peaceful protest only” he said.
Imran Khan said he will try to bring Dr Tahirul Qadri on his agenda.

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