LAHORE, Pakistan: An election tribunal in Lahore on Monday ordered to verify votes of NA-122 constituency in Lahore from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The tribunal judge Kazim Ali Malik issued the directives on a request made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, seeking opening the ballot bags in NA-122 constituency to investigate allegations of rigging in the May 2013 general elections.
The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s (PML-N) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who later became the Speaker National Assembly, had won the seat in last year elections from NA-122 by securing 93,362 votes while Imran Khan remained runner up with 84,417 votes.
The NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the PTI had sought a recount and verification of voters’ thumb impressions.
The election tribunal also ordered to open voting bags of PP-147 constituency.
Talking to media, the PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Lahore election tribunal verdict is a major step towards justice.
On the other hand, the lawyer of Ayaz Sadiq said that he would challenge the election tribunal verdict, ordering re-opening of NA-122 votes.
Earlier on Saturday, the PTI chairman appeared before the election tribunal in Lahore to submit an evidence report to judge Kazim Ali Malik pertaining to alleged rigging in the May 2013 elections.
Later speaking to media representatives outside the tribunal, Imran Khan stated that evidence had been recorded in front of the judge.
