Verdict on NA-122 shows entire electoral system full of flaws: JI

Pakistan Awami Tehrik demands fresh elections

By Asim Hussain
August 23, 2015
LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday said the election tribunal decision on NA-122 showed that the entire electoral system was full of flaws and needed comprehensive reforms.
But the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) was of the view that the results of 2013 elections were untrustworthy and hence fresh elections should be held to restore voters’ trust.
Jamaat Islami acting chief Liaqat Baloch said the decision proved that the election system was full of flaws. Unless it was subjected to comprehensive reforms and the Election Commission was made completely independent and autonomous, public trust on results could not be restored, he added.
Baloch said judicial judgments should be accepted in accordance with their spirit so that democratic and electoral process could be strengthened.
A spokesman for PAT demanded holding Baloch said judicial judgments should be accepted in accordance with their spirit so that democratic and electoral process could be strengthened.
of fresh elections after the Election Tribunal struck down the polls in NA-122 and de-seated the National Assembly speaker by ordering fresh polls in the constituency.
The spokesman said the decision negated the Judicial Commission report on the 2013 elections and vindicates PAT’s stance that they were rigged.
He questioned the status of all the laws framed during the last 26 months while a person liable to be de-seated remained the assembly speaker.
The spokesman said instead of hiding behind a stay order, the PML-N government should pack up and go home and order snap elections in the country.
According to the spokesman, it is the second constituency where a sitting MNA has been de-seated which is ample proof that the whole of the election process in 2013 was flawed and the elections were rigged. The spokesman said at present, the politics of give and take was clear with no distinction between good and bad democracy. He said the ruling PML-N had no moral grounds to rule and the time had come to call fresh elections.