PTI seeks CJP’s suo motu notice of ‘rigging’ in NA-47, 48

ISLAMABAD: Spokesman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Shoaib Shaheen on Saturday demanded of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to take suo moto notice of the rigging made in the general elections, saying the action will prove as a first drop of rain for supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, ensuring fundamental rights as well promoting democracy in the country.

In a letter addressed to CJP, Shoaib Shaheen narrated the whole detail of rigging in the recent elections held on February 8 across the country in general and in his constituency NA-47, 48, Islamabad in particular.

During the polls, he said he participated in the election as an independent candidate and with the support of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insa from NA Constituency 47 and 48; according to Form 45, he obtained 104,578 votes with a clear lead of about 53 thousand votes. This is a clear proof and primary testimony signed and recorded.

He said that along with the official seal of Form 45, interim results were also published on electronic media while the candidate against him received 51,613 votes.

“At the height of irony and the dynamics of behind-the-scene elements, it was made difficult to access RO office and by unfairly completing the consolidation process in my absence, there was a deliberate and flagrant violation of the Elections Act, 2017 and Election Rules, 2017,” Shaheen submitted.

He, however, submitted that in the Form 47, he was declared invalid with only 86,395 votes whereas against him Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who is supported by Pakistan Muslim League, was declared successful with 102,502 votes.

“Although I had secured the lead with 104,577 votes according to Form 45 while the said candidate got only 51,613 votes,” Shaheen contended, adding that the same form is kept by all 45 contending candidates, including Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Kashif Chaudhary and Hafiz Khawar Ikhlas, etc.

“After verifying Form 45, it should be ordered to issue Form 47 and final result and notification in the light thereof and it should also be ordered that the person bringing or using the tampered document will go to jail and this exercise can be done in just three days,” Shaheen submitted.

He submitted that this verification can be done by every district and sessions judge, who can be assisted by additional sessions judge and senior civil judge as well.

He further stated that there are question marks on the enforcement of basic human rights and especially the sanctity and honour of the vote where billions of rupees were spent on elections. “The right to vote has become a mere spectacle among the common citizens and if it is not stopped in time, anarchy will spread inside Pakistan,” Shaheen submitted.

He further submitted that the Chief Justice, while exercising suo moto jurisdiction, will prove to be the first drop of rain for the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, protection of fundamental rights and democracy, which can make the entire tree of democracy a tree of the electoral process.