Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan alleged that the rigging tactics used in the February 8 general elections were repeated in the by-elections held on Sunday. According to Pakistan-based Geo News report, he said that polling staff were coerced in today's by-elections.
Speaking on Geo News program Naya Pakistan on Sunday, Khan said his PTI had huge support from the people and there was no need to rig the elections.
Ali Muhammad Khan said that voters in Punjab voted in favor of PTI. However, he added that “someone else is making the election results.”
He declared Khyber Pakhtunkhwa election results valid and asked political parties to file legal complaints if they find irregularities in the by-elections.
Meanwhile, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah said the voting percentage in the by-election is a “big message” for the PTI, Geo News reported.
Speaking at the same event, Sanaullah said, “PTI voters today [उपचुनाव के दौरान] Have not come out,” he said, adding that the PML-N party was satisfied with the by-election results and had always accepted the election results.
Rana Sanaullah urged political parties to use relevant forums to resolve grievances related to the by-elections. He said the PML-N used to raise objections to the election results “within the system”. However, he said PTI founder Imran Khan always tried to “bulldoze” the existing system.
Speaking on the by-elections held on Sunday, the PML-N leader said that usually the voting percentage in by-elections is low and only loyal supporters vote for the parties they support.
The former interior minister of Pakistan expressed satisfaction over the by-elections and said that results are coming from all polling stations and Form 45 is being issued. He said that if any wrongdoing is done on the day of voting, a complaint will be lodged.
Rana Sanaullah urged Ali Muhammad Khan that he should sit with the PML-N to identify and plug the loopholes through reforms in the electoral system instead of “bulldozing” the system, Geo News reported. . He further said that PML-N has always worked for the betterment of Pakistan and invited political stakeholders to resolve issues through dialogue.
Violent clashes broke out between workers of different political parties in different areas of Punjab during voting in by-elections for 21 national and provincial assembly seats amid suspended cellular and internet services to maintain law and order.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered the action after taking cognizance of complaints of murder of a PML-N worker and alleged kidnapping of polling staff in violent clashes during the by-election in Punjab's Narowal.