Petition against ‘rigging’ in NA-154

MULTAN: Pakistan People’s Party ex-MNA Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani has criticised the PTI government for allegedly influencing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a case filed by him against alleged rigging in NA-154 (Multan-I).

Addressing a press conference at Gilani House on Monday, Abdul Qadir Gilani demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan for creation of separate High Court bench for early trial of his petition, which was pending for the last eight months.

He said that Prime Minster Imran Khan had announced on the floor of the assembly that he was ready to open any constituency on rigging complaints.

Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani said that the election in NA-154 (Multan-I) was allegedly managed in favour of the PTI candidate and he was kept in total darkness regarding result during the next 48 hours after the polls. The PPP polling agents were ousted from the polling stations and the result was prepared in their absence, he alleged.

He said that when the first bag of ballot papers was opened, it was containing counterfeit ballot papers without thumb impressions and he asked the returning officer to declare those votes invalid, but he refused to do so.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan fined him Rs 10, 000 on installing hording but no other candidate was fined on the violation of the same nature. Senior lawyers, Muhammad Ali Siddiqui and Sheikh Ghiasul Haq were also present.