In a press conference held on Friday, Shoaib Shaheen, supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), vehemently criticized the outcome of the NA-47 elections, where Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was declared the winner. Shaheen expressed his intention to explore both political and legal avenues to address what he perceives as unjust treatment.
Shaheen decried what he characterized as unfair practices against the PTI, alleging that their nomination papers were unjustly dismissed and accusing the Returning Officers (RO) of being deeply entrenched in corruption. He lamented the loss of their electoral symbol, likening it to losing their “bat,” and squarely blamed the Supreme Court for allowing such injustices to persist.
According to Shaheen, the discrepancy in the vote count was glaring, with him claiming a lead of over 50,000 votes, while his opponents managed only 40,000 votes collectively. He further alleged that his votes were erroneously added to Tariq’s tally, suggesting foul play.
Despite reaching out to relevant authorities, including the District Coordination Officer (DCO) and the Election Commission, through written appeals, Shaheen claimed to have received no satisfactory response. He questioned the integrity of the democratic process, pondering whether votes could be tampered with simply due to personal biases.
Accusing the authorities of destabilizing the very foundations of democracy and jeopardizing the welfare of the state, Shaheen declared his determination to challenge the election results through protest and legal means. He underscored the importance of safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people, framing the current struggle as one for their survival rather than mere political power. Moreover, Shaheen revealed their intention to seek recourse in the courts, citing a significant discrepancy of over 50,000 votes in the reported results.
Akram to move LHC
Meanwhile, in a separate development, another PTI-backed independent candidate, Salman Akram Raja, initiated legal action against the election outcome in NA-128, filing a plea in the Lahore High Court. Raja alleged violations of the election act by the returning officer and sought the court’s intervention to ensure a fair compilation of the election results in his presence.
More to read:PTI Grateful for Public Participation, Raises Election Concerns
It’s important to note that in NA-128 Lahore, Awn Chaudhry, the candidate of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), emerged victorious with 172,576 votes. He defeated Salman Akram Raja, an independent candidate backed by PTI, who secured 159,024 votes.