Much worse took place in 2013 polls than just '35 punctures': Imran Khan

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan on Sunday said ‘35 punctures’ is only a tip of the iceberg as it has now come to everyone’s knowledge that much worse took place in the general elections of 2013.

Talking to media persons here, Imran Khan said PTI’s counsel told the judicial commission probing the rigging allegations that actually it was ‘70 punctures’ and not just 35.

“It has come to light that much more excesses took place (during 2013 polls) than just 35 punctures,” he claimed.

He clarified that Murtaza Poya did mention ‘35 punctures’ in front of him and that Dr Ejaz is also a witness to the same. “Both of them still stand by to this,” he added.

“The matter of 35 punctures will not cause any harm to me,” Imran Khan believed, reiterating his claim that it was actually Punjab where most of the rigging took place. He said ‘Returning Officers carried out rigging in the Punjab’.

He said PTI has proved that organized rigging did take place in the general elections of 2013.

Commenting on the controversies involving Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the PTI Chief said if MQM can lodge a case against him why couldn’t it do so against BBC.

He said the former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has not yet denied funding MQM.

Imran Khan said MQM is facing grave charges and if it wants to come out clean it will have to do more than just passing verbal statements.

He said Pakistan Peole’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman issued a statement against the army and when he looked back he did not find Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif standing behind him. Zardari chose to flee from the country soon after criticizing the army, he added.

He said he has come to Karachi for the fund-raising of Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

Saeed Ghani of PPP responds

Reacting to Imran Khan’s statement against Asif Ali Zardari, PPP leader Saeed Ghani said only those who do not know the PPP Co-chairman level such allegations against him.

He said Imran Khan should not pay attention to rumours and that Asif Zardari would soon return to Pakistan.