LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan urged an election tribunal here on Saturday to open the polling bags of the constituency NA-122, where National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had emerged successful, in order to expose alleged rigging in last year’s general elections.

Mr Khan made this request while he was being cross-examined by the counsel for the speaker. He also submitted a written application to the effect.

The tribunal member, Kazim Ali Malik, will announce his decision on the application on Monday.

The tribunal was hearing a petition of Mr Khan, who accused Mr Sadiq of rigging the elections.

It issued 10 special passes to each of the two parties for hearing and media persons were not allowed to attend the proceedings.

Before the cross-examination, the PTI chief was sworn in by the tribunal to speak truth in his statement. He also submitted his affidavit and alleged that results of several polling stations were changed and polling agents of the PTI were harassed on the polling day (May 11).

Barrister Asjad Saeed, the speaker’s counsel, told reporters that Mr Khan, when asked whether any complaint had been lodged before the returning officer, said he was in hospital from May 7 to 22 because of a minor head injury. Mr Khan said the polling agents narrated the whole story of ‘rigging’ to him, the counsel said.

After the proceedings, the PTI chief told reporters that he had asked the tribunal to open the polling bags to have all proofs of rigging. He said his party had been seeking justice for “one and a half years” but the government was taking shelter of the law.

He said he gave an offer to Mr Sadiq to also open the polling bags of the constituencies won by him in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the opposition had always alleged rigging in elections, except in 1970. However, the elections of 2013 were exceptional because all parties had been alleging rigging ever since they were conducted, he said.

Shafqat Mahmood, Ejaz Chaudhry, Aleem Khan and other PTI leaders were also present.

Meanwhile, supporters of the PTI and the PML-N remained engaged in a ‘war of slogans’ the whole day outside the office of the Punjab Election Commissioner. They even scuffled before a heavy contingent of police was summoned to maintain law and order.

The PTI workers, including women and students, had gathered outside the office hours before the arrival of their leader.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2014