LAHORE: Expressing distrust over a commission that held inspection of National Assembly Speaker’s constituency, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has sought action against the commission head and re-inspection of certain polling stations of NA-122.

In an application submitted to the Election Tribunal on Wednesday, the PTI chief said the commission did not observe its terms of references (ToRs) and also committed breach of trust by giving media statements on his report of the inspection. Tribunal-member Kazim Ali Malik will take up the application on Jan 31 (Saturday).

A retired sessions judge Ghulam Hussain Awan, the local commission, had already submitted inspection report before the tribunal. In his report, the commission pointed out irregularities in the election record, however, left the point of rigging to be decided by the tribunal. Victory of NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was maintained in the recount by the commission.

The inspection of the record was held in the presence of representatives of both parties –PML-N and PTI. The inspection was held on the application of Mr Khan, the runner-up candidate from the constituency.

Wants action against commission head

Mr Khan stated that the behavior of the commission throughout the inspection was unexplainable. He said after he submitted the report to the tribunal and upon reading of the report, it became evident that the commission was negligent with purpose.

He said the commission revealed his bias by giving his own opinion to electronic media on the inspection report. He stated the commission being a very experienced professional could not be given benefit of the doubt that he was unaware of the nuisance value of his media statement.

The PTI chief said the matter was still pending before the tribunal and the commission by giving media statement became a party to the matter. He said this serious act of breach of trust and duties by the commission could not be ignored and in presence of such clear evidence, showing the bias of the commission, appropriate action must be taken against it.

Imran Khan, therefore, asked the tribunal to take serious action against the commission for breach of trust and duty. He also sought an order for re-inspection of bags of certain polling stations as per the strict adherence to the ToRs given by the tribunal.

The applicant further pleaded that an official of the tribunal should be appointed along with the commission and representatives of the parties for the re-inspection of all the bags.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2015

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