Imran reiterates re-election offer for LG polls in KP

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Imran reiterates re-election offer for LG polls in KP

Dawn.com Published June 8, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday repeated his offer of holding re-elections for local government (LG) seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Last week, Imran had offered to hold re-elections if the contesting political parties and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) believed his party had influenced the outcome of the polls through unfair means.

Speaking to media representatives outside the ECP office in the federal capital, Imran said, “Why should we (PTI) resign from government? It is the responsibility of the ECP to conduct free and fair elections, not the provincial government.”

Read: Imran offers re-election to parties and ECP

“Opposition parties were responsible for the rigging. We are offering to hold re-elections under the supervision of the Pakistan Army. Opposition parties are asking the PTI government to resign, why did the same people not ask Nawaz Sharif to hold re-election? They stood with him and helped him."

Read: Imran blames ECP for KP poll problems

ANP has demanded resignation of the PTI’s provincial government after rigging allegations emerged from opposition parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the LG polls.

“In the presence of the present ruling setup in the province, re-elections are not acceptable even if they are conducted under the supervision of the army,” Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali had said while speaking.

Read: CM House behind rigging: JI

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), a partner of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led ruling coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had also held the Chief Minister House responsible for the ‘worst rigging’ in the local government elections in Peshawar and demanded that ECP declare the May 31 electoral process null and void in the district before ordering re-polling.

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Time for Action

Jun 08, 2015 05:03pm

Similarly, those who were asking the government to resign because of election rigging are not resigning themselves. If the other parties have changed their stance so has PTI. The other parties are corrupt, but PTI has a cloak of piety, so much better is expected of them than to behave like the bad guys. What is the difference then?

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Hassan zaman

Jun 08, 2015 05:04pm

Imran we will support you ....They all are corrupt...? they want same politics of 80s & 90s

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A Ali

Jun 08, 2015 05:08pm

@Time for Action - oh come one for God sake put sensible comments. did your PM offered for re-elections ? even once !!!.

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Rashid Ishaq

Jun 08, 2015 05:14pm

keep wasting money on election election

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Shakil

Jun 08, 2015 05:23pm

They are united against you Imran! ANP, PPP, PMLN etc all are in same gang.

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khanm

Jun 08, 2015 05:31pm

There's always hurdles. So you just keep moving, just constantly redefining yourself. That's how you stay in this political rat race.

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Rehan

Jun 08, 2015 05:32pm

Since he has nothing else as a priority in this country than to shout rigging and foul talks accusations and holding elections over and over again. They should now first resign since they have rigged the election too.

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Time for Action

Jun 08, 2015 05:33pm

@A Ali Yes he did not, because he won more than 50% seats and was in a position to make the government. And here we are where even after rigging PTI is not in a position to make the government, if it would have been then the offer would have meant something. As of now it the same empty rhetoric like those of resigning from the assemblies and not returning.

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Awais Ali

Jun 08, 2015 05:36pm

IK is brave man. But i am shocked what all status quo parties want? They are not agreeing on re-poll, not coming in APC just want anarchy in province.

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Gaz

Jun 08, 2015 05:40pm

Think IK is missing the point these people don't want free and fair elections they want them rigged with the seats shared out between them. That's why they are all uniting against PTI.

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IZhar

Jun 08, 2015 05:41pm

There will always be some irregularities and imperfection in any election, making the whole election result doubtful and demanding a new election is not a wise idea.

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Shahid

Jun 08, 2015 05:47pm

ANP will never support re-election as it is them who did the major part of rigging. But PTI doesn't deserve any sympathy either as they should have known better and should have planned a better electrol process and law and order control.

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imran khan

Jun 08, 2015 05:58pm

this is insane. when will these politicians learn to be civilized and stop the never ending infighting.

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Imran S

Jun 08, 2015 05:59pm

@Time for Action Perhaps you may want to have a look at Lg results. PTI appeared to be the only party which can make local governments . Rest all other parties won seats but not in majority enough to set up their local government except in few areas.

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CYRUS

Jun 08, 2015 06:11pm

@A Ali ........ How do they get anything done with all this game playing?

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CYRUS

Jun 08, 2015 06:15pm

@Gaz ..... That's politics. Rig the elections if you can. They all do it.

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CYRUS

Jun 08, 2015 06:17pm

@Time for Action ..... "I'm taking my cricket ball and cricket bat and going home."

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Arslan

Jun 08, 2015 06:25pm

@Time for Action IK demanded opening ballots of 4 seats at the very beginning and only after a year of refusal by PMLN he called for dharna. You have conveniently skipped the whole history! And in KPK LG polls, IK offered (within a week, NOT after a year or more) a complete re-election but none are willing to take up his offer! I hope you can see the difference ...

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Azhar Malik

Jun 08, 2015 06:25pm

Demanding resignation from PM by PTI at dherna time and now by opposition parties in KPK from Provincial government is senseless and illogical. These demands are only appropriate when charges of rigging are proved. Interestingly PTI is now understanding that it is the election commission which is to be blamed for irregularities and rigging and not KP K government/PTI. They should apply the same formula for the election 2013.

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Najeeb

Jun 08, 2015 06:46pm

@IZhar but ik was demanding the same resignation from pmln govt. even the whole election was not rigged.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Jun 08, 2015 06:49pm

Hmm...So Mr. IK..could you please explain how can this poor nation finance such ELECTION games, that is, first we need re-election for LG-POLLS, then re-election of by-elections and re-election of GENERAL election..I think thats why you meant to say 2015 would be the year of elections...isn't it?

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Jaan Bhittani

Jun 08, 2015 06:53pm

Let PTI taste its own medicine called Dharna

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azmat

Jun 08, 2015 06:56pm

@Time for Action For your kind info, PML(N) did not get a clear majority in the 2013 elections. Also, local bodies have returned PTI as the single largest party in KP and local govts will be formed in individual districts and whoever has more seats in the district will form the govt there so winning a clear majority does not apply here

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A Ali

Jun 08, 2015 07:19pm

one honest man ... who have no corruption record is being churned out of this polluted system even on the slightest of an eye-wink. for Heaven's sake; people - think before joining PPP / ANP/ JUIF in their absurd or mad call for a possible dharna or shutter down strike. until now what these parties have given you in return.? for sure now this a game being played at the back of govt backing to destabilize KPK's progress... and trust me if you tried to stop or dethrone KPK govt whole govt will collapse, resulting in possible Military take over.

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Time for Action

Jun 08, 2015 07:21pm

@Imran S Out of the 24 districts PTI can win 12 and the others can win 12 too. Much depends on the independents. It's not a clean sweep for PTI. Not even something fabulous to be proud of. JUI, ANP, PML have all made their way back with handsome number of seats. With two years of good governance and dharnas, jalsas and campaigning this is not an ideal performance.

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malick

Jun 08, 2015 07:38pm

@Shahid ...PTI does not need any sympathy, no one else need sympathy, election planning and management including army deployment is the responsibility of ECP. ECP hold and can exercise SC powers,

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A Ali

Jun 08, 2015 08:06pm

@CYRUS ... who - they ?

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Akib

Jun 08, 2015 08:07pm

@A Ali his party members didn't take ballot boxes home. The difference Then was that only Imran khan asked for a resignation, and still doesn't have much support on his 2013 face saving tribunal. He offered for a tribunal to investigate. Before the 130 futile dharna. And that's all he got Imran Khan can only complain and blame others.

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kirther

Jun 08, 2015 08:09pm

Nobody except the people of Pakistan can change the existing corrupt and incompetent political system. PTI and Imran Khan are confused about their political aim, they are not sure of what they want to achieve, this part has very tall ambitions but does not have the leadership who can deliver.

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Haider Rehman Real

Jun 08, 2015 08:18pm

Thats what you say, when you believe in your vote bank.

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shair khan

Jun 08, 2015 08:23pm

What is the difference between your demand to Nawaz Sherif and what people are asking you to do?

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Rehan

Jun 08, 2015 08:25pm

Imran protests against rigging in National elections and government does not respond. After 120 days of dharna, they form a corrupt commission full of its cronies to investigate the matter. KPK elections are held and most parties complain about rigging. So Imran offers relection but complainers are hesitant in accepting a re-election offer. Why? Because, they were not sincere about their demand. THey were just doing it just because Imran did so. This Jahiliya needs to end.

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Juliana Fitzwater

Jun 08, 2015 08:35pm

@A Ali He was not in the Government at the time of elections Einstein!

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Gultasib Khan

Jun 08, 2015 08:38pm

@Time for Action Remember Emperor famous speech in Lahore on Election day that I want you give absolute power to form the Government..

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Jay

Jun 08, 2015 08:47pm

@Time for Action PML-N got 50% seats through rigging, that is the bone of contention. In order to resolve it they dragged their feet till the terrorists attacked the school in KPK. Compared to that, PTI is offering immediate resolution by re-doing the elections. What is wrong with that offer?

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Proud Pakistani

Jun 08, 2015 08:50pm

First convince your members to resign and then talk next

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Jay

Jun 08, 2015 08:51pm

@kirther Criticizing is the easiest thing in the world. But offering a solution is the toughest. Can you offer a solution?

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cornered tigers

Jun 08, 2015 08:59pm

And who will pay for the repeat elections ! bani gala fund!!

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Husain

Jun 08, 2015 09:08pm

@PHILOSOPHER (from Japan) This nation is poor because politicians come to power through rigged election and don't care for peoples' vote. People don't have power to elect their government. That is why no noble person goes in politics. That is what IK wants to change. Hope you can see what he is fighting for and if we pay for that now then in future we don’t have to pay bigger prices in terms of corruption.

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rabia

Jun 08, 2015 09:24pm

how nice! and I suppose someone will pay for that election, re-election and re-re-election?

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Insafian

Jun 08, 2015 09:35pm

The opposition coalition is just bad news. If they really wanted to see an end to their issues, they should have attended the APC and said their views. CM has said he will abide to the decision APC decides. Also, the fact that 500 polling stations out of 11000 witnessed rigging/mismanagement issues, is that really that big a scale of mismanagement to ask the provincial government to resign??

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mumtaz.baig92@gmail.com

Jun 08, 2015 09:49pm

@kirther Why do you think IK his confused. He is not at all. His stand is still the same. The PMLN have confused people by constant lies. IK message is little difficult to get in to the minds of people who are oppressed and have no education at all. Those who have some knowledge or have the capicity to understand the problems of the country know very well the difference between PMLN+PPP+ANP and PTI.

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Jun 08, 2015 09:57pm

I have no comment but to ask who is asking for resignations from PTI. I am not affiliated with any party but have seen many such corrupt and empty potitions making and demanding such actions to hide their corruption, inadequacies and princely living style Pakistan Wake up, if not now then never as we have seen this over more than 60 years

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Shaukat Ali

Jun 08, 2015 10:23pm

Re- elections are not easy as they cost a lot to the national exchequer. Only areas where rigging is proven can be considered for reelection. Similarly, there is no reason for the PTI government to resign as its reelections will cost a lot too. Notwithstanding the above, IK has proven his double standards here again. He has been demanding from PM and his party to resign though PML(N) did not conduct general elections. And contrary to that, now he has the courage to snub the demand of resignations of the KPK government, though this government was there when LG elections were held. Hypocrite.

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Shaukat Ali

Jun 08, 2015 10:26pm

@Time for Action PTI knows how to cover its corruption under slogans, Sir.

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Irfan Shah

Jun 08, 2015 10:56pm

No because PML (N) was adamant that they did not rigged elections whereas PTI knows what they have done hence they are willing to offer re - election. Same poison but different bottle

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muhammad

Jun 08, 2015 11:16pm

There is no need fore re election let them cry they all against pti

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M.Saeed

Jun 09, 2015 12:10am

Re-election is not for free. It is a multi-billion rupees affair and there is no surety of it not being made due for a third election in a sequence. Besides, it is already a proven ground reality that the PTI led Provincial Government of KPK is not capable of getting a free and fair election conducted in its Province.

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Iqbal Khan

Jun 09, 2015 12:18am

@Shaukat Ali the people may not heed the hue and cry of these status quo parties. All know who they are? Do anybody think they have not done rigging? They are more expert in rigging than others. ANP needs to remind its time when there was no LG election at all. It is PTI to conduct such elections and dare again re-elections if anybody wants to challenge the results. There are Punjab and Sindh who even cannot think of any LG elections. They ruling parties know their position there

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Truth Seeker

Jun 09, 2015 01:26am

and a never ending thread of conversation is on.....PTIvsPMLN

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Mast_Kalandar

Jun 09, 2015 01:51am

When Imran does not win he calls for re-election. Child play.

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Adil Jadoon

Jun 09, 2015 02:00am

@Shahid The problem being that provincial govts. do not organize elections! ECP does.

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Adil Jadoon

Jun 09, 2015 02:01am

@kirther And you have an alternative?

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Abdulla Hussain

Jun 09, 2015 02:20am

"Imran Khan had offered to hold re-elections if the contesting political parties and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) believed his party had influenced the outcome of the polls through unfair means".. Neither PTI nor Imran Khan should offer to hold re elections. It should be the court that should after a thorough investigation should declare whether the election was rigged & by whom. If PTI is found responsible then apologies is not enough.

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MJK

Jun 09, 2015 03:22am

@Time for Action - Don't equate IK with MNS on this issue- Sharif never agreed to re -election.

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raja toronto

Jun 09, 2015 04:53am

why IK is not saying that people of PTI who are involved in rigging brought to justice , how can same people will not do rigging

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Truth will always Prevail

Jun 09, 2015 08:25am

Opposition parties were responsible for the rigging. We are offering to hold re-elections under the supervision of the Pakistan Army. Opposition parties are asking the PTI government to resign, why did the same people not ask Nawaz Sharif to hold re-election? They stood with him and helped him Very well said Imran. You have purposed the correct solution if ECP does find a rigging and also you have exposed Mullah and ANP not asking Nawaz to resign. This is the problem with these corrupt Parties like ANP, Mullana Fazal, PPP and PMLN and sad part is peoples still want to elect them even though the very same poeples and their children have been suffering by the rule of PMLN and PPP for over 40 years but they do not learn from it

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Mukhtiar

Jun 09, 2015 05:24pm

Imran khan must reconcider his team and take neat and clean persons

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