November 20, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Illahi Bakhsh Soomro, the presiding officer of National Assembly, on Tuesday categorically rejected the allegations of any rigging in the election of speaker of the National Assembly.

“Let me assure you there has been no rigging in speaker’s election,” he said while responding to allegation by some of the members.

Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, an MNA from Mianwali accused that empty and marked ballot papers found from the ballot box had made the election doubtful and demanded re-election.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman also raised objection about these empty ballot papers found from a ballot box and demanded an inquiry into the matter.

Responding to their points, the presiding officer said: “The election had been fair and there was no question of rigging.”

“As far as the matter of constituting a committee is concerned,” he said, adding “this is privilege of the elected speaker as he was only presiding over the session and could not take decision in this regard.”—APP