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Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Dr Yasmin Rashid said on Monday that her party would not accept the results of the NA-120 by-election until the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) addressed its reservations over the validity of over 29,000 votes.
Rashid, who was fielded as the PTI's candidate in the NA-120 by-polls, told reporters in Lahore that the party would not allow the ECP to release the results ─ nor would it accept the results, if released ─ of the by-election until the commission or the National Database and Registration Authority accounted for 29,607 votes deemed by the party to be "unverified".
Nearly two weeks before the highly-contested by-election was held on Sunday, the ECP had revealed that Nadra was missing the biometric data of 29,607 voters in the constituency.
The votes of those whose data was not available, therefore, would have to be verified through the standard process before being verified by the biometric verification machines that the ECP had installed at 100 polling booths in 39 polling stations.
The ECP had provided assurance at the time that no voters would be excluded from the process due to the missing data.
"What is the value of these votes?" Rashid questioned. She asked that the votes be considered 'bogus' if they were not confirmed by authorities.
On Saturday, a day ahead of the by-poll, the ECP said it had made the list of those voters public upon the directions of the Lahore High Court.
The official results of the NA-120 by-election are yet to be released. However, unverified and unofficial results shared by local news media declared PML-N candidate Kulsoom Nawaz victorious.
The NA-120 seat fell vacant after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ─ Kulsoom's husband ─ was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case.
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On DawnNews
Comments (56) Closed
Sep 18, 2017 09:22pm
Had ECP announced well in advance about missing biometric data of around 29k voters who would still be able to vote, PTI should have raised objections before heading into polling. They appreciated the process even when counting got underway and opened with PTI in the lead. It's only after their loss is clear that they've started finding fault with the process. It's obviously an obstructionist approach.
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Sep 18, 2017 09:40pm
PTI should also highlight the open use of government resources and development work after announcement of election. This directly lies under pre-poll rigging. If ECP wants to earn respect then it should start acting as an independent and non-partisan institute. It should start giving strict punishments to those who violate Election rules.
Otherwise their worth in public eye is same as Punjab police.
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Sep 18, 2017 10:16pm
@Shakeel
Timing is not important my friend, the allegation itself must be probed at all cost if we want a free and fair election.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:05pm
A good move by Dr.Yasmeen, the election commission itself is a fixed/rigid institution and will in no way be sincere to resolve this issue.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:12pm
Good argument. Verification is a must.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:15pm
@Shakeel Sorry but you are wrong PTI raised this matter time and time again. ECP did nothing to allay PTIs concerns...as long as we have the corrupt in this dept we can never expect free and fair elections.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:24pm
@Shakeel
Very well concluded, Sir.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:25pm
It needs a lot of courage to accept defeat gracefully.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:29pm
@Shakeel PTI had objected to these unverified voters ....if you had read any English language newspaper.People who support Gawalmindi Goondas can make up any number of excuses for them.
This shows what type of subhuman species inhabits this poor country.Person should only have voting rights if he or she is at least a graduate from a university,has permanent address and a tax payer.
Others should take a hike including retards like you.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:33pm
Dr.Yasmeen has a valid point here, why complete voters list are not verified? If it goes unchecked like this then people will definitely suspect the honesty of ECP. Winner or looser should have proper election procedure. Her team especially the women deserved appreciation for their hard work. IK is very lucky to have such a potential and educated people in his party.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:34pm
@Arif M
ECP will only get respect when it declares PTI as winner in all cases?
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Sep 18, 2017 11:36pm
@Arif M
Very sad; PTI lost despite all hidden support.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:44pm
shame less party
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Sep 18, 2017 11:59pm
And here it comes again.
Same old drama.
They may begin a dharna soon to compel the institutions by all means to declare this election null and void.
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Sep 19, 2017 12:01am
6500 Military men guarding an election, and PTI seems VERY satisfied. Do NOT blame the process, PTI has done great by getting as many VOTES as did. Take it as a milestone achieved and COME BACK stronger.
Please stop with the Blame. IF PML-N lost and blamed the ECP, the ENTIRE ARY team would be hurling insults at them. PTI doesn't look good doing it, so please STOP, ACCEPT & MOVE-ON!!!!
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Sep 19, 2017 12:08am
On behalf of the PTI - We will never accept any polls as accurate ...... Unless we are declared the winners.
Nawaz Sharif can never win the Lahore vote !!!
State of Punjab zindabad !!
Pakistan Zindabad !!!
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Sep 19, 2017 12:17am
Pakistan cannot establish democracy and progress
Until corruption is rooted out in all forms, this is vital for the existence of the country.
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Sep 19, 2017 12:26am
Nawaz win was marred by intentional non verified voters of substantial numbers. Mind boggling ,and her daughter is nasty,without any political acumen.
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Sep 19, 2017 01:06am
Again crying and cribbing - NA120 RIP!
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Sep 19, 2017 01:16am
weep Imran weep.
when PTI loses, then it is rigging but if they win then all is fair.
PTI is losing its credibility.
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Sep 19, 2017 01:18am
Some are just not ready to accept that Nawaz Sharif has created a great party and that they ACTUALLY have done a lot of work to improve Pakistan. Yes they have a lot more to do.
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Sep 19, 2017 01:38am
Same drama has begun which we are watching sine 2013. The only way elections are acceptable to PTI is that announce them victorious otherwise all elections will be rigged one.If they had win this seat, Elections were to be free and fair.
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Sep 19, 2017 02:00am
@Israr Khan Ismailzai
You are absolutely right Mr. Israr. The ECP was not impartial neither did it apply election rules strictly for reasons I do not want to mention.
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Sep 19, 2017 02:01am
Typical PTI, no grace, hate to remind people of what Khawaja Asif said, only time perhaps he was right..
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Sep 19, 2017 02:01am
Please can you send the policy in order for me to go through it.
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Sep 19, 2017 02:10am
I dont understand why pur people cant follow rules, too stupid or dont want to???
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Sep 19, 2017 02:44am
PTI never bothered to respond to ECP objection to party campaign procedures and now after impending defeat they've are approaching EVp for their irregularities. It is all messed up situation in Pakistan, gracefully accepting the election result shall more civilized and mature approach.
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Sep 19, 2017 02:46am
@Arif M ,My friends, if PTI had any evidence of of use of Government resources for the election they would have brought it to the public through the media ,a media so pro PTI that it's seems like being run by some higher authority.
PTI and the leader has a habit of crying at each election. If they knew that so many voters are bogus, why did they participate in the election. Now I know the reason, they needed a reason to cry and tie up the courts. And how would she know all those voters were hers or MLN?
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Sep 19, 2017 03:05am
@Israr Khan Ismailzai ,just like the Party Funding case must be investigated . Mr .Babar is running from court to court for close to Four years but due to some unknown pressure the EC is so easy on our most honest Leader. So why go to EC they are bad and worth less as your leadership know it.But if you are at EC for justice,please settle your case first than proceed for this one.
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Sep 19, 2017 03:20am
Each and evey should be verified from Nadra data. Whats the problem if can't be verified then something went wrong in the election by using state machinery.
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Sep 19, 2017 03:29am
There is no end of Drama in PTI. Daily, all day, all night. It is a drama company. Horrible!
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Sep 19, 2017 03:37am
Now everyone is well aware that it's become PTI reputation to cry over others success.
Imran khan being as a sportsman leader must tell his party members that win and lose is a part of game.
29k votes were not counted in any account.
Please be a part of democratic rule and law and stop undemocratic ways to resist the progress of country.
History will not spare you other wise. Thanks
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Sep 19, 2017 03:51am
Who is begging you to accept the verdict.
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Sep 19, 2017 03:53am
@Munarmed ali uk
You live in a fool's paradise. Don't assume that everywhere you want the results will be according to your liking.
If after such strict measures and tight controls PML-N won, just leave it and move on. It was fair and square.
I would be surprised if PTI candidate would've won from home ground of PMLN. Then it would've been a compromised election!
Agree to disagree. Learn to live with the outcomes rather than creating hurdles. If you love Pakistan and want it to progress use your head and not emotions. Accept the results and move on.
Are you going to keep on having elections till you finally win and then they will be called legit???
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Sep 19, 2017 04:29am
there should be no issue getting these votes verified right? i mean PML-N is always fair and just and can't even think for a second of rigging any votes..never happend and will never happen , no ? !
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Sep 19, 2017 04:34am
PTI administration is incompetent....this is third time they could not catch a flaw in the system that PML-N exploited again and again. PML-N is the most richest party....forget winning anything against them.
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Sep 19, 2017 04:44am
Fair play to PTI for once.. 29000 votes is a hell of a lot of votes to remain questionable based on lack of biometric data. Specially when margin or victory is tight as well.
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Sep 19, 2017 04:52am
@Shakeel Watching om TV, i have been seeing PTI questioning ECP's lack of action against PMLN misconduct in this election even before the election day. For example, no action was taken against PMLN despite videos emerging on social media of roads being fixed in the constituency through state machinery right before the election. This very act should have disqualified the PMLN candidate. Secondly how can ECP let someone run for a seat when that someone is ill and not present in the country too. It defeats the very purpose of the election. Only these two points are enough to highlight ECP's tilt towards PMLN. Still it is proven NA 120 is not the den of Sharif's anymore despite a lack of action from ECP. Dr Yasmeen Rashid is right. ECP. needs to come clean to the natiom!!
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Sep 19, 2017 04:52am
@Arif M they have to rfigue out what this pertains to first..
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Sep 19, 2017 04:54am
Dr. Yasmin Zindabad!
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Sep 19, 2017 06:22am
Sportsman's party has zero sportsman Spirit !
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Sep 19, 2017 06:51am
Please verify each votes with cnic original cards and signature
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Sep 19, 2017 07:03am
Here we go again...
Sore losers PTI are up to their old games again.
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Sep 19, 2017 07:03am
@Shakeel
PTI has been asking for verification of those votes before election day then LHC took steps and then ECP accepted the allegation and gave assurances.
They still appreciate how election day process has been carried out
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Sep 19, 2017 07:09am
Genuine issue which could be resolved by verifying votes by Nadra. Previously,Nadra reported that it was unable to verify significant votes in 2013 election.
This why PMLN wants to keep an iron grip on Nadra.
Its upto PTi to raise awareness of the issue so 2018 elections are not rigged.
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Sep 19, 2017 07:10am
Here begins the dhandli mantra
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Sep 19, 2017 07:13am
@Shakeel no its not.... if a process is set before the elections then it must be followed period. Anything else would be breaking that process
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Sep 19, 2017 07:25am
No one accepts anything in Pakistan due to corruption, lies and fraud.
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Sep 19, 2017 07:32am
@Farzana What a way to attract people to your cause.I am sure after being called sub-human for votting a political rival,people would be rushing to join PTI.
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Sep 19, 2017 08:08am
Bottom line is our masses still need to be educated to understand the sanctity of vote and what it means for the future of Pakistan. Sadly we are not there yet.
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Sep 19, 2017 08:19am
Either the results of this fresh pooling or the pattern of the comments, it shows how divided the entire nation is.
There is need for the public to educate themselves, strengthen the institutions and move on.
There is neither time to look back, nor any need to do so.
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Sep 19, 2017 10:35am
This world is a strange place, i mean Zardari was president as well ;)
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Sep 19, 2017 11:23am
@Farzana
Mirror never lies, madam.
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Sep 19, 2017 02:05pm
If PTI did not win then definitely it was not a fair election. And BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! all what we have heard before, every time PTI loses, the same old crying.
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Sep 19, 2017 08:47pm
@AHAQ just accept the defeat
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Sep 20, 2017 08:43am
You lost fair and square!
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