ISLAMABAD: While the government and the protesting parties traded barbs within parliament, three key members of the federal cabinet held a press conference to respond to allegations levelled by Imran Khan against the ruling PML-N.

Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Technology Minister Anousha Rehman and Science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid called upon the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief on Wednesday to immediately end his sit-in and work for the betterment of the country from the opposition benches inside parliament.

Even as the leader of nearly every political party in parliament stood up to reiterate that they believed there was truth in the rigging allegations, Ahsan Iqbal posited: “If the allegations of rigging are correct, why has the PTI only filed election petitions in 50 out of a total of over 1,000 constituencies?”

Many of those present at the press talk were left wondering why – when parliament was in session and a debate on the matter was under way – did the PML-N minister feel the need to address these allegations separately. The timing of this press conference, many felt, was odd.

Cabinet members hold press conference to address issues being debated in parliament

Nevertheless, Mr Iqbal said it was ridiculous to assume that the caretaker government, appointed by the Pakistan People’s Party, paved the way for the current ruling party and helped it “steal” the elections when the fairness of the 2013 general elections had been acknowledged by neutral observers.

He said the Chinese president was scheduled to visit Pakistan later this month to sign important agreements and that if the sit-in continued, it would be tantamount to sabotaging the visit of a friendly head of the state.

He said that the protesters’ demand regarding thumbprint verification of voters in four constituencies was not within the government’s powers to order and that election tribunals were the forum where such a request could be made, adding that nearly 80 per cent of the case load of these tribunals had been completed.

He also maintained that additional ballot papers had not been printed privately, saying that their distribution was the responsibility of the Pakistan Army.

During his speech to protesters on Wednesday night, PTI chief Imran Khan also referred to his demand for thumbprint verification in four constituencies, saying that he had laid a trap for the government because he knew that if these four were reopened, the massive rigging would stand exposed.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2014