ECP orders probe over Khan's rigging allegations

Published May 20, 2014
Cricketer-turned-politician and head of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan leaves the Supreme Court after a case hearing in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug 28, 2013. —AP Photo
Cricketer-turned-politician and head of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan leaves the Supreme Court after a case hearing in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug 28, 2013. —AP Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission on Tuesday ordered investigation into Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's allegations of electoral rigging in Sargodha's NA-68, a seat won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the 2013 general elections.

Sources told DawnNews that the commission has demanded the voters list and record of vote counting after Khan's allegations of over 100 per cent votes polled at one of the polling stations in the constituency.

The PTI claims that at polling station number 246 of NA-68, where Prime Minister Sharif was declared winner, 540 per cent votes were cast on polling day.

The total registered voters at the polling station were 1,510, whereas 8,176 votes were polled, of which 7,829 went to Sharif, claims the party.

Following election results, Sharif vacated the NA-68 seat and retained NA-120 (Lahore).

Sardar Muhammad Shafqat Hayat Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) later returned successful from the seat.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore earlier today, Khan said that he wanted electoral reforms within the ambit of the law, and that his party was in contact with other political parties over the matter.

However, Khan ruled out the possibility of a greater alliance of opposition parties in the current political circumstances.

The PTI chief also strongly opposed martial law, or any such extra-constitutional steps.

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