LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan says he will shake hands with Nawaz Sharif if his government brings even a single dollar back from President Asif Ali Zardari’s accounts in foreign banks.
Demanding justice on rigging complaints, Mr Khan said PTI workers would come out on the roads if justice was denied. “I will lead protest demonstrations across the country,” the PTI chief said.
Mr Khan was addressing PTI workers in Samanabad (NA-122 constituency) on the invitation of party’s PP-148 MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal on Thursday. He was scheduled to address workers on Wednesday, but could not reach there due to bad weather.
The PTI chief said the Supreme Court took notice of his word “shameful”, but did not take any action where Pakistan’s democracy was under attack. “There is a different ‘Insaf’ for the PML-N and the PTI,” he stated. He said people voted for the bat, but its opponents won the election. He said corrupt rulers could never end corruption in the country. He asked his party workers to start robust preparations for the forthcoming local body elections.
Mr Khan said PML-N leaders were crying hoarse that they would end power crisis within six months after coming into power, but now their claims had extended to five years.
The PTI chief said that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had reportedly obtained a stay order after acceptance of his application by the election tribunal about rigging in the NA-122 constituency, where he himself contested the election.
He urged the Supreme Court to take notice of rigging in elections beyond his application for inquiry into four constituencies. He said forensic examination of finger print results would be accepted by the PTI and same was expected from the PML-N. “How come 8,000 votes were polled, where total registered voters were just 1,500?” he asked.
In the NA-103 constituency, Mr Khan stated, the returning officer said that 26 bags of votes had been lost and fresh elections would be organised in this constituency.
“We are raising our voice against rigging and demanding legal and constitutional remedy. If justice is denied, we will protest across the country,” he said.
Mr Khan apologised for violent action against media persons by PTI workers at party’s protest demonstration and assured that action would be taken against those involved.
PTI MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal said mass rigging was committed in the general election in the NA-122 constituency and results were changed. He said the PTI would continue its democratic struggle and raise voice for the resolution of problems being faced by the public. He said the Punjab government had registered a fake case against him, but he would continue to raise voice undeterred.
PTI Punjab general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid said party workers’ struggle finally compelled the election commission to hold recount of votes in the by-election in the PP-150 constituency. — Staff Reporter