ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday dropped the vote secrecy case against prime minister-in-waiting and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, accepting his signed apology by the majority 3-1 votes.

A four-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza heard the case. The majority view to let Mr Khan off the hook prevailed, with the CEC the only one on the bench to insist that evidence on trampling of the vote’s sanctity should be recorded. ECP members from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, however, decided to accept the unconditional apology tendered by Mr Khan and withdraw the notice served on him.

Advocate Babar Awan appeared before the bench as counsel for Mr Khan and submitted a written apology.

In his reply, Mr Khan says he holds the ECP and electoral laws in high esteem with a resolve to further strengthen the national institution by all means as head of the majority party of the country.

Babar Awan submits PTI chief’s signed apology

He submitted that at the time he cast his vote the polling station was full of people. He said he went alone inside the polling station, followed the rules and obtained his ballot paper. “In the meantime I checked from staff space to mark ballot paper, but furniture was topsy-turvy.” He said he was told to use a table, where media personnel were taking pictures without his consent or will.

“No violation was committed wilfully nor any act was intentional, but the petitioner tenders unconditional regret and apology,” reads the written statement, a copy of which is available with Dawn. He said he had responsibility towards the nation which was beyond and above his person. He prayed that the notice served on him be withdrawn.

The ECP has already issued notifications of Mr Khan’s victory from four constituencies of the National Assembly.

A day before, the ECP had rejected a reply submitted by Mr Awan and had sought a signed apology from Mr Khan for violating the secrecy of ballot.

Mr Khan had cast his vote at a polling station of NA-53 (Islamabad) where he defeated former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the July 25 general elections. TV footage showed Mr Khan, accompanied by his friends and supporters, including Zulfi Bokhari, publicly stamping his ballot paper on the presiding officer’s table.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2018