Imran may face contempt case

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan could face contempt of court proceeding for his fake claims about the outcome of the election tribunal (ET)’s orders for recounting as the lawyers of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who defeated him in NA-122 Lahore in May 2013 polls with the margin of more than eight thousands vote are working on starting proceedings against him for these claims.
Sources close to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told The News here Tuesday that the results of recounting have dashed down the claims of Imran Khan about the so-called rigging and the outcome has punctured his balloon. The sources said that if Khan is convicted in contempt, he could face disqualification. Dr Ali Ayaz Sadiq, son of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, has said that Imran Khan should wait for submission of report regarding inspection of NA-122 record by the local commission before the tribunal. “If Imran has any objections, then he should move application before the tribunal instead of hurling allegations against his rival in the media”, he added.
He castigated Imran Khan for issuing his verdicts regarding NA-122 inspection time and again without ascertaining the facts on the ground. He said that the election tribunal would decide the matter once the commission submits its report and hearing of arguments of both the parties is complete. But Imran Khan is constantly issuing his verdict out of frustration despite the fact that the commission had not yet submitted its report, he said.
He questioned whether Imran Khan wanted to influence the court in which he had showed confidence. He said the commission rejected the votes which were not signed and stamped by the presiding officers. He reminded that such 800 votes of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and 935 votes of Imran Khan were rejected, and it was a reason that Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s lead has been increased by 135 votes.
Rejecting Imran Khan’s claim of missing Form 14, he said that the commission received all the relevant record from the returning officers and 100 percent Form 14 were received by the polling stations. He rejected Imran Khan’s figure of missing signatures on counterfoils and said the tribunal had already said that it was not necessary during inspection of record. Referring to ballot papers showed by Imran Khan to media, he said all the record was available in the Nadir Hall, DCO Office, and it was a property of the election commission. “How Imran Khan got that ballot papers. Did he get these printed?” he said. He said that Imran Khan’s representative was present during the inspection of record and he (representative) did not raise any objection about the size and colour of ballot papers. “Then why Imran was raising this issue today,” he questioned. He said that they could also produce such files and evidences but they did not want to compromise judiciary in any way.