Prez asks poll body to probe vote rigging
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain raised the issue of alleged rigging in the July 25 elections and asked the election commission to look into the complaints of political parties to make the poll process “fully transparent”.
Addressing an official function to commemorate Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day, Hussain said it is crucial for the country to make state institutions powerful and independent.
Various political parties have alleged that elections won by Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan were not fair and demanded a probe.
Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif on Monday alleged that “historical rigging” took place during the July 25 elections.
The PML-N came second in Pakistan’s National Assembly with 82 seats compared to Khan’s PTI which emerged as the single largest party with 158 seats in the 342-member lower house.
President Hussain said the elections and celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day were held in close proximity which “is a reminder that the way this country had come into being with the people’s will, in the same manner, the decisions regarding its fate will be made through the vote.”
He said the polls were organised under new laws enacted by the previous government to make the Election Commission of Pakistan powerful and independent.
He said there is a complete unity in the country to make the process of elections “fully transparent” and the previous elected representative made laws to empower the ECP.