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ECP denotifies Saad Rafique

Dawn.com | Abdul Shakoor Khan Published May 7, 2015
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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notification of annulment of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique's membership from the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday.

Rafique had been appointed MNA after winning the 2013 general elections from Lahore's NA-125 constituency.

An election tribunal annulled results of the NA-125 election and ordered a re-poll on the seat won by Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Monday.

Read: Railways Minister Saad Rafique loses NA seat

Javed Rasheed Mehboobi, member of the Faisalabad election tribunal, allowed the petition of the runner-up candidate, Hamid Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and asked the ECP to hold a fresh election in the constituency within 60 days.

In the NA-125 election, Saad Rafique had secured 123,416 votes while his opponent Hamid Khan bagged 84,495 votes.

In its short order, the tribunal said grave irregularities were found in the record of seven polling stations of NA-125 inspected by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

Know more: Discrepancies found in NA-125 record

It noted that the election staff (returning officer and presiding officers) had not discharged their duties proficiently. The RO had compiled the results on the basis of unverified information, it added.

Rafique deflected all charges against him on Monday saying the tribunal's decision to order re-election in NA-125 constituency was against the presiding and residing officers of the constituency, and that runner-up PTI candidate Hamid Khan had "failed" to prove rigging.

Also read: I'm being punished for Returning Officers' failure: Saad Rafique

Rafique challenges tribunal order in SC

Following an earlier announcement by the PML-N on Wednesday to approach the Supreme Court for a reversal of the order, Khawaja Saad Rafique challenged the election tribunal's order for repolling in NA-125.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to six PML-N ministers and leaders who addressed a crowded press conference at the PID, gave the go-ahead to adopt legal course, instead of fighting it out on electoral ground with the PTI.

Pakistan

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fida sayani USA
May 07, 2015 02:01pm
This man should be banned from contesting in the future elections in Pakistan.
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Awais Ali
May 07, 2015 02:04pm
PML-N always gave lesson to others that we respect courts order now they criticized tribunal order but scared of re-poll.
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syed wasim haider
May 07, 2015 02:06pm
Good news for PTI; he should have been given a benefit of doubt as per PMN-L wish.
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Sandhu
May 07, 2015 02:06pm
A big fish and backbone of govt is going home. This is Tabdeli that IK,s determination brings. You accept or not.
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M. Saeed Awan
May 07, 2015 02:07pm
@fida sayani USA Why this man be banned. Whether he rigged? He is a valuable politician who proved an efficient, honest minister for Railway. All good wishes for Saad Rafique.
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Sandhu
May 07, 2015 02:21pm
Who would be next Railway Minister? Does PML-N have someone who won free and fair election?
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Hassan
May 07, 2015 02:22pm
ROs should be taken to a strict task before anything else happens, and should be made to be an example so no one dares does this again no matter who asks!!! Seat should remain vacant till then, and PTI should not back down till the strictest of punishments are handed down to the ROs and all abetters.
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Maqsood
May 07, 2015 02:31pm
The person who found guilty should bane for election forever.
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Venkaty Bhaya
May 07, 2015 02:41pm
What a joke. I remember watching channels where this guy was shown in Ladies Polling booths to influence voters.
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Dilawar Khan
May 07, 2015 02:41pm
if it was in Karachi - an absolute case of disqualification then
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Karachi Walaa
May 07, 2015 02:44pm
In the meantime, PMLN continues tread of Asif Zardari by making mockery of institutes. Saad Rafiq announced as Adviser of Railway.
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Azam Jamil
May 07, 2015 02:45pm
Throughout the Dharna PML N kept advising IK to go to the tribunals. Now that he has, they say they have serious reservations on its judgement. This attitude is what leads people to believe they have no justice in this Country.
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Proud Pakistani
May 07, 2015 02:46pm
Don't worry Pakistani's can't make imran their PM - excluding the social media group of PTI.
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Azhar Malik
May 07, 2015 02:47pm
@Maqsood yes agree but Said rafique was not found guilty in the tribunal decision.
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The Pakistan Lover
May 07, 2015 02:49pm
All irregularities went in PML N favor. What a coincidence?
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Irfan Baloch
May 07, 2015 02:50pm
this Saad Rafique and the top lot of Nawaz league are "in-your-face" smug and shameless. watch it how they will bully the voting and he might win with 150% votes in his favour. Nawaz league's leadership represents what Pakistanis deserve unfortunately.
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Viking Star
May 07, 2015 02:51pm
@fida sayani USA ...Well, if we keep banning such characters, we will have only a handful members left in the assembly. I do not think democracy suits Pakistan - until we have a fair amount of "literate" population with sense of their rights and responsibilities.
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Viking Star
May 07, 2015 02:52pm
@Sandhu LOL you have raised a very valid (and interesting) question.
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Pakistani
May 07, 2015 02:57pm
Saad Rafique should go for punishment of the election commission staff who committed such grave irregularities which cost him the NA seat and embarrassment. But alas Khawaja sb is appealing to the supreme court that such irregularities should not be noticed and his seat should be restored. This shows who does not want election process to be improved.
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Owais Mangal
May 07, 2015 03:08pm
@Maqsood "Plus" those behind irregularities should be given due punishment
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Umer Ali
May 07, 2015 03:20pm
Saad Rafique vehemently says he is not involved in the rigging. What he is unable to understand is that he is the only beneficiary of all the irregularities. The irony is that this is more or less the same story in other constituencies where N-league won. BUT nobody dare say the election is rigged. Neither by tribunal nor by judicial commission.
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Concerned Citizen
May 07, 2015 03:20pm
What ever one might say about Mr. Saad Rafique's politically. He surely did a lot of good for the Railways. I hope Supreme Court rejects the Tribunal Decision. If not he is surely going to win the bye-election.
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PHILOSOPHER
May 07, 2015 03:29pm
@Viking Star Literacy is not the issue....the main problem lies in WADERA-SHAHI. We can't reap the perks of democracy until we free our population from Khans/ Lords/Chaudhries etc...The one who doesn't have food for him and his family doesn't care who is ruling or not? His priorities would be different than ours.....First introduce the system that can free poor from modern-slavery (slave for generations)....Its easy to draw such samples in any village or rural area of any province in Pakistan.
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Gohar Chitrali
May 07, 2015 03:34pm
@Fida Sayani from Big Brother! Can't agree more. This and every other politician found guilty or misconducting under oath must be barred from taking part in politics for good. It is said that a good start is half done, and having Saad Rafeeq shown the highway at least one half of the parliamentarians would join his company soon. They are douche-bags who know nothing about legislation, democratic norms, and national interest and get themselves elected through illegal means.
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ailly
May 07, 2015 03:34pm
At last, justice delivered... hope it does not face any court "stay order"; a delaying tactic in which PMLN excels and they have a track record of attacking the Supreme Courts if verdict is not given in their favor. does such disqualification implicates that candidate for permanent ban from ever taking part in elections again ??.
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Umer Ali
May 07, 2015 03:36pm
This man is repeatedly saying he has not committed this crime. This reminds me of Brucelee when he says "It all does by itself"
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khan saheb
May 07, 2015 03:48pm
I am sure Suprme Court will give a stay order for three years. I can bet no election on this seat
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Rajab Ali
May 07, 2015 03:53pm
The things wrong in the world are right in this country. PMLN destabilized with the very first wicket!
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Mian Kashif Mumtaz
May 07, 2015 03:59pm
PMLN can not win even a single seat if election conducted fair and impartial.
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A. MURAD K.S.A.
May 07, 2015 04:04pm
Great injustice has been done to Mr. Saad Rafique by punishing him for the sin he never committed. Hope Mr. Saad will get justice from higher court. The tribunal should have checked all costed votes, reject the illegal ones, and then decide the actual winner based on the number of legal votes. The responsible for the irregularities should given exemplary punishment.
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Usman Ahmad
May 07, 2015 04:21pm
@Sandhu Yes!unborn grand child of Nawaz Shareef.By that there would not be any corruption any more.New generation new era.This is called "TABDEELI".
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nadeem
May 07, 2015 04:33pm
well done pti
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Azmeen
May 07, 2015 04:34pm
Khawaja Saad is victim of this decision that did not charge Saad with any crime. Alas! Pak lost an effective Minister who was successfully revamping Devastated Pak Railways.
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Tariq
May 07, 2015 04:36pm
Adopting any legal course of action is fine. Had it been PTI candidate IK would've conveniently said even tribunal decision is rigged. Recent local bodies elections have shown a mirror right in IK's fave that his negative brand of politics are no popular in masses. People instead of supporting his lust of power are expecting some positive results on the ground as opposition and ruling party in Centre and KPK, respectively.
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pakistanii
May 07, 2015 04:47pm
@Azhar Malik You are right he is not guilty. It must have been the wind that changed the result and made him the winner.
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haris
May 07, 2015 04:48pm
@M. Saeed Awan He would be the first Honest person in the World who tried all hooks and crooks to win the election. Perhaps, honesty in your dictionary meant something else.
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A. Khan
May 07, 2015 04:48pm
Saad Rafiq shall pay back the perks and benefits he derived for the last two years as MNA and Minister as he had entered in power through rigging.
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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
May 07, 2015 05:08pm
What a mockery in my beloved Pakistan where 1st the government did not agree to accept that there had been rigging in election but due to consistent pressure from Imran they agreed to conduct investigations and an election tribunal was formed to dig out the thruth which as such deseated Railway Minister belonging to the ruling party PML (N) who is backed to challenge the election tribunal verdict in Supreme Court which is nothing but negation of invetigations. Why to go for it when it is not to be honored? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
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kanwarch
May 07, 2015 05:48pm
He is a thug and people will speak in re elections
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Naeem
May 07, 2015 05:53pm
The riggers and those who call them innocent and honest, are all in this Islamic Repiblic. They are the ones who call themselves Muslims. Pls note "Humpty was pushed".
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AH
May 07, 2015 06:00pm
@Umer Ali I think its fair to say by the election tribunal to say there are irregularities than rigging as the tribunal work to determine whether the election was conducted as per the rule of the day. Its the work of court to determine whether these irregularities constitutes to rigging. For us its enough to say irregularities found by the election tribunal as simply rigging as these irregularities are too regularized or made systematic for ensuring win for the candidate. I solute to PTI for cleaning up the election process that was never done in the history of Pakistan.
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Babar Khan
May 07, 2015 06:04pm
@M. Saeed Awan please define the word "honest' sir that you used in your comment.
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Zak
May 07, 2015 06:14pm
One khawaja caught and running from a fair election.
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Jaleel Rahman
May 07, 2015 06:20pm
@Hassan What about the persons who paid them.
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shiraz
May 07, 2015 06:40pm
PTI gets the last laugh!
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Wisdom
May 07, 2015 06:58pm
Since Rafique's name was not written on bogus ballet papers so how can you say he rigged the election? Instead PTI did all rigging and when failed to complete their agenda they started crying against rigging. We tried to stop or slowdown tribunal proceedings only to save PTI from embarrassment that they are facing now. You know I am shameless. Period
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Junaid
May 07, 2015 07:09pm
I wish people had paid attention to IK's call for a million man march (dharna), but at that time no one came out of their homes ( except for a few). Tribunal decision is not about the politician's involvement in rigging, therefore there is no reason for a call to ban Saad Rafique. The decision is asking for re-election, which was IK's demand to begin with. People / politicians misunderstood PTI demands from the beginning, and still do. PTI is not asking to put anyone in jail for the rigging at this time, at least. They are only asking to identify the rigging and fix the election results by re-election, and not to repeat the same mistakes in future.
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Canada
May 07, 2015 07:17pm
PK politics in like a badly scripted soap opera/drama. They are so bad and useless but its still fun to watch them
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Salman
May 07, 2015 07:38pm
In the west when a case is registered against a politician he or she usually voluntarily resigns from the position. Oh sorry Khawaja sahab you are a PMLN person it does not apply to you.
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nisar
May 07, 2015 07:40pm
I salute the courage of Election Commission big cats for taking such a bold step well knowing that they will be targeted
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Tahir Chaudhry
May 07, 2015 07:47pm
Good riddance. More to follow soon.
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Zafar
May 07, 2015 08:14pm
@M. Saeed Awan Just before this decision, Pakistan Railways announced plans to buy 55 locomotives from of all places, the US. With a bankrupt Railway, taxpayers will be footing the bill for this if the order goes through. I beg to ask, why can't we buy the same engines from China? Who in their right mind buys these from the US?
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Zafar
May 07, 2015 08:15pm
@Junaid What are you talking about. People came out in millions - remember this thing lasted for 126 days. Their were huge public gatherings in all parts of Punjab along the way.
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michel
May 07, 2015 08:15pm
What a shameless accusation against the ROs and POs. Whatever and whoever is committed mistakes but the thing is, rigging is there and EC ordered for election again.
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Zahir
May 07, 2015 08:16pm
RO should give their side of the story. Why did they do it? What was their interest in not being diligent & benefit Saad Rafique. I am sure they will speak up when asked by Judicial commission.
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malik
May 07, 2015 08:39pm
@M. Saeed Awan Because he cheated to get elected. How can someone who rigs election is 'Honest'. PML-N & PPP are not only promoting the Culture of Corruption they are also Defending it. So He is good for Railways? Tell me what destroyed Railways, PIA and ALL institutions of Pakistan? it is Corruption. Why Pakistan is a 3rd world Country? Corruption (especially Corrupt goverments )
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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali
May 07, 2015 08:39pm
After losing his seat how can he be still a minister of railways.
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Haider Rehman
May 07, 2015 08:40pm
A tep forward for democracy. By the way N league said they would accept any result of tribunal, what happened now? Isn't N league the real U turn league!
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Syed Ganga Din
May 07, 2015 09:39pm
Saad Rafique will come back swinging. He is not going anywhere.
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anony
May 07, 2015 09:46pm
"Rafique challenges tribunal order in SC" Didn't Saad Rafique himself say that any outcome from the Election Tribunal will be accepted by him and his party??? Why going to SC now.
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JUSTICE
May 07, 2015 09:54pm
PML-N still afraid to admit that they cheated in 2013 election, there's no credibility left for Sad Rafeeq, instead of participating in reelection like honest man, he decided to hide behind supreme court judges. Shame on dishonest politicians.
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Zafar
May 07, 2015 10:04pm
According to the forensic report, there is over 40% vote which can't be verified by NADRA. Extrapolating it over all polling stations, and using the total vote count of over 200,000 cast for this national assembly seat, this comes out to over 80,000 unverified vote. This isn't a case of a bogus vote here, a bogus vote there. Fake mandate, fake people's representatives, great decision by the election tribunal.
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Sarwar
May 07, 2015 10:23pm
@Azmeen Yes he was revamping the railways, along with ONE Constitution Avenue (at least 20 percebt of it).
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Sohail
May 07, 2015 10:33pm
@M. Saeed Awan This man is a big defaulter of Bank, corrupt and inefficient and made billions through so called Paragon Society. He is a part of most corrupt govt in the history of Pakistan.
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usman
May 07, 2015 10:40pm
@Proud Pakistani Why? I am not very social media person. I do follow politics and find IK to be honest. That is truly the need of the time. Once we have the foundation (honesty) then we can strive for rocket science.
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ailly
May 07, 2015 11:02pm
so PMLN is paving ways for collision between Judiciary and ECP, Sheikh Rasheed was right that PMLN does not need others to topple them they will buckle down under weight of their democratically elected heavy weight members, am happy process has begun.
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Khan Raza
May 07, 2015 11:57pm
@Owais Mangal It is not possible to have fair trial under this govt., who itself came to power by rigging.
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Syed
May 08, 2015 01:51am
nothing will improve. nothing will happen. this is pakistan.
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Khan Raza
May 08, 2015 02:24am
@JUSTICE. Do you remember, Mr Sharif held victory speech before, election results were fully announced. It was pre planned to bring PML-N to power. Saad Rafique is one example of rig election. There are many more. Still he is defiant to admit his rigging. I wish there is free trial of all those involve in rigging of last elections.
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Maqsood Ahmed
May 08, 2015 02:28am
Like it or not you are destined to lose again Mr.Rafique.
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Khan Raza
May 08, 2015 02:29am
@A. Khan Either it is Saad Rifque of Sharif brothers, they will never admit rigging, though all Pakistan knows that wide spread rigging was done in Punjab. Shame on cheaters.
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SOHAIL DADA
May 08, 2015 03:28am
I am not a PTI nor PML-N member. Everyone is blaming RO's. No one is questioning what benefit would a RO get out of it. If they are getting any benefit then obviously it's paid my the beneficiary. Everyone wants to hang the hit man, but what about the guy who paid for the hit?
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