Do you think there was rigging in the 2018 General Elections?

[the Great Khan]

No. PPP want to make sindh govt, they knw they wont survive much without it. they dont care about central.

so the rigging noises are gonna die slowly.

check the thread from [MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION] where the western media are now claiming issues, however the EU monitors found no evidence of rigging. They are only now after twenty four hours claiming the environment wasnt fair ..thats pretty flimsy if you ask me and shows the election did not suffer rigging. The west isnt happy with IK being in charge and any Muslim election is a problem for them..

 

[topspin]

no one here is saying that they are angels but, if you gonna play the traitor card thn,

NS and Benazir = Altaf hussain

Yes NS and Benazir are also despicable individuals however there is a fine line between looting your country and killing your own people.

I had to point this out because there are MQM supporter(s) on here trying to convince everyone their party is the best and bash Imran Khan at the same time.

 

[the Great Khan]

Michael Gahler, the chief of the European Union election observer mission, told a press conference in Islamabad that his 120-strong team observed no rigging on election day itself.

Gahler said that counting in polling stations was “sometimes problematic” but “from what we observed” in 582 of the 85,000 polling stations the military “were not interfering” with the vote.



End of discussion.

exactly end of discussion..the anti pakistan guardian can say what it wants..that one statement is enough to end the PMLN's nonsense!!

 

[slipcatch]

The EU’s election monitoring team in Pakistan has piled further pressure on the country’s disputed general election by saying that it was told of “systematic efforts to undermine the ruling party” before the vote and that the playing field was not level.

Michael Gahler, the chief of the European Union election observer mission, told a press conference in Islamabad that his 120-strong team observed no rigging on election day itself.

But in surprisingly harsh comments that will be seized upon by the defeated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he added that the election environment was “not as good” as in 2013. This contradicted a media report shared by the victorious Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on its official Facebook page which said that the respected EU mission had found this year’s vote to be cleaner than the last one.

Gahler said that counting in polling stations was “sometimes problematic” but “from what we observed” in 582 of the 85,000 polling stations the military “were not interfering” with the vote. He advised the six major parties that alleged ballot-fixing to take their complaints up through legal channels.


However, in serious criticisms that will cast a shadow over the formation of the new PTI government, led by former international cricketer Imran Khan, Gahler said that pressure on the media, as well as “far stronger” efforts than usual to encourage switching parties, and “judicial conduct” all negatively influenced the vote.

Advertisement

He said the overall legitimacy of the election was for the Pakistani people to decide.

PML-N, the defeated incumbent party, has long complained that its chances in the vote were badly hurt long before polling got under way. More than 30 of its candidates left the party during the campaign and many privately alleged that they were pressured by Pakistan’s ISI spy agency.

PTI enjoyed success across the country, official election results showed on Friday. With 11 seats left to count, more than a day after the result was due, the PTI had won 114 seats in the national assembly, PML-N had taken 63, and the Pakistan People’s party 43.

Khan will still need to form a coalition to become prime minister, which requires at least 137 seats, but a single party winning contests across the country – in the north, south and Punjab – is rare in Pakistani politics.

The ease with which the PTI can implement its policy agenda also received a significant boost from its strong performance in state-level elections.

0:43
Imran Khan addresses vote rigging allegations in Pakistan election victory – video
As well as forming the federal government, the PTI’s capture of 118 seats in the provincial assembly of Punjab, the largest and wealthiest province, means it has a good chance of evicting the PML-N from the state government there, a stronghold that its leadership, even as they contemplated defeat, had been desperate to protect.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said turnout had dropped to 52%, a fall of two points on 2013, as had been expected following a low-energy campaign beset by allegations the military was seeking to hobble the PML-N.

In a televised victory speech on Thursday, Khan struck a unifiying tone, pledging to lift up the poor and allow the rigging claims to be investigated.

Quick guide
Pakistan elections: who are three main parties?

Show
The PML-N founder, Nawaz Sharif, told family from the prison cell where he is serving a 10-year sentence for corruption that he considered the result “stolen”.

GenAsif Ghafoor, the army’s spokesperson, drew criticism after tweeting “You honour who You will and You humble who You will”, a verse from the Qur’an that was taken in some quarters as confirmation of the military’s support for Khan.

The trickle of official results threw up surprises. Top PML-N leaders performed worse than expected. The former prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who took up the role after the ousting of Sharif, lost both the constituencies he was contesting.

The former finance minister Miftah Ismail posted on Twitter that he was “looking for work” after his own defeat. Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s brother and the new leader of the party, scraped into parliament after losing three of the four seats he contested.

Supporters of Imran Khan celebrate in Karachi.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Supporters of Imran Khan celebrate in Karachi. Photograph: Shahzaib Akber/EPA
Although Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a new far-right Islamist party dedicated to killing blasphemers, failed to win any national seats, its strong second-place in many contests raised fears that it will influence the future of Pakistani politics.

The party claimed a startling 10% of the vote in the 110-million strong province of Punjab, cutting into the PML-N vote bank, and won two seats in the Sindh provincial government.

Imran Khan has won over Pakistan. But real power still lies with the army
Samira Shackle
Read more
Advertisement

Analyst Umair Javed told the Guardian that the scale of Khan’s win across the country made the PTI a rare “truly national party”. It won a two-thirds majority in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the first since 1951, while at the other end of Pakistan, in the southern business capital of Karachi, the party vastly outperformed expectations to claim half the seats.

That might reflect a shift away from ethnicity-based politics in both regions, said Javed.

A former PML-N cabinet minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique, petitioned for a recount of his defeat to Imran Khan in the capital of Punjab, Lahore. He said the presiding officer at the polling station “rejected” many votes.

The PML-N will host a conference of opposition leaders in Islamabad on Friday to discuss their response after all said that the vote was rigged, with their polling agents – workers who keep an eye on the count – evicted from ballot booths by security officials. At a party meeting on Thursday, the PML-N decided against boycotting parliament.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ion-imran-khan-official-results-win-coalition

Question to EU.

What are you suppose to do when your current government leader name comes in Panama leak for money laundering and then provide fraudulent document in an attempt to discredit the evidence and get caught?

Stop trying so hard to spin it.

 

[Pakistanian]

So they say that there was little to no fraud or rigging but they're just unhappy that their guy didn't win lol.

 

[InziRules]

I agree with the EU. There was no rigging, but parties (Including PTI) found it almost impossible to campaign.

The only party that really had a door to door campaign here in Karachi was MMA. Both PTI and MQM Karkuns said they could not go out to campaign for some security reason.

There is no rigging, there was a security threat though.

 

[Syed1]

Rona dhona full on chaalo hai.... Noon league had 5 years to fix the electoral system. Heck IK even demanded it through street protests. At that time they laughed it off. Well who is laughing now?



Muslim League Noon - inna lillahi wa inna illahi raji'oon

 

[Red Devil]

exactly end of discussion..the anti pakistan guardian can say what it wants..that one statement is enough to end the PMLN's nonsense!!

It was supposedly not a level playing field because money launderers and drug dealers were convicted for their crimes. Hilarious.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Really sad that Tehreek -e-Labbaik didn't wean a seat in the parliament. Pakistan voters have been a huge disappointment.

 

[the Great Khan]

Question to EU.

What are you suppose to do when your current government leader name comes in Panama leak for money laundering and then provide fraudulent document in an attempt to discredit the evidence and get caught?

Stop trying so hard to spin it.

Answer: If its a Muslim democracy then you have to vote for someone who is corrupt and will do the wests bidding.

 

[Bewal Express]

Disgusting by the Guardian- they all know that IK won easily but it seems that all papers are working to a script.

 

[Bewal Express]

It was supposedly not a level playing field because money launderers and drug dealers were convicted for their crimes. Hilarious.

Only in the West are they allowed to have clean politicians, we must do with crooks and thugs, who as long as they do the Wests bidding are fine. Can imagine the outcry in the West if Altaf Hussain had thousands killed in London from Karachi?

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Pre-poll = yes

At the ballot box = NO

This is why PTI is cool with opening ballot boxes

 

[slipcatch]

Pre-poll = yes

At the ballot box = NO

This is why PTI is cool with opening ballot boxes

Everyone keep saying that but no one understand simple concept.

Nawas Sharif and his daughter's name were in Panama leak, they were not able to provide adequate evidence to support their case and top of that they submitted a fraudulent document and got caught.

Many politician had to quit, fined, or served time for the similar offense in other part of the world, specifically in western world, who are criticizing Pakistan.

So please provide an evidence or else it is just talk out of thin air.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Don’t know. I don’t have a crystal ball.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Everyone keep saying that but no one understand simple concept.

Nawas Sharif and his daughter's name were in Panama leak, they were not able to provide adequate evidence to support their case and top of that they submitted a fraudulent document and got caught.

Many politician had to quit, fined, or served time for the similar offense in other part of the world, specifically in western world, who are criticizing Pakistan.

So please provide an evidence or else it is just talk out of thin air.

What are people smoking ?

A lot of other people have corruption cases against them.They were punished for living beyond their means corruption proven.Reports are that in Punjab a lot of PML-N candidates were either asked to run independent to switch parties by the power be . Same with Karachi and Baluchistan . Electable s were nudged towards PTI . This election was managed , not at the poll but ahead of it . I Am not really complaining though , In a country like Pakistan you can't really make it big without the establishments backing .Its the truth of our country , Army is a big stakeholder. Nawaz Sharif was a huge beneficiary of the same system so not really too bothered by that either . I'd rather it be IK than Nawaz. Its just that I prefer to not have my head in the sand about how things are .

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

How stupid one has to be to even consider voting for MQM.......I mean do people really have pea-sized brains???

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

How stupid one has to be to even consider voting for MQM.......I mean do people really have pea-sized brains???

How arrogant do people have to be to not recognise people’s mandate. I have many differences with MQM voters but it is very undemocratic to pass on derogatory remarks on their biological functions.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: Pleas for vote recount filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Saad Rafique and Abid Sher Ali were approved by the respective Returning Officers on Friday.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan's plea was also approved.

Rafique challenged his opponent Imran Khan’s victory in the closely contested NA-131 Lahore 9 constituency. The former railways minister alleged that the presiding officer deliberately rejected hundreds of votes.

In his application, the PML-N leader has demanded a recount of the votes from the said constituency. Until the votes are recounted, the results from the constituency should not be announced, he has requested.

ECP declares results of 251 of 270 NA seats; Imran Khan's PTI leads with 110

Imran won NA-131 Lahore 9 with 84,313 votes, defeating Rafique who managed 83,633 votes, according to the unofficial results from all polling stations in the constituency.

PML-N's Abid Sher Ali has challenged PTI's Farrukhh Habib in NA-108 Faisalabad.

In addition, PTI’s Aleem Khan’s plea for a vote recount in NA-129 Lahore has been approved by the Returning Officer (RO). The RO has summoned the winner, PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq Saturday at 10am.

Aleem in his plea stated the constituency’s results stand in contrast to facts, adding that the polling agents were not provided with Form 45, which is a statement of the count.

He also claimed that the polling agents were expelled from the polling stations during the vote count.

Sadiq won the seat with 103,021 votes, while Aleem secured 94,879 votes.

Poll results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan show the PTI leading in the National Assembly. As PTI workers from across the country celebrated the results, the outgoing PML-N rejected the results citing "outright rigging" and accusing officials of preventing its representatives from overseeing the count.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/205020-saad-rafique-challenges-imran-khans-victory-in-na-131-lahore

 

[Majid Khan]

Whether it was rigged or not is not known, but what is clear like day is that the culture within Pakistani politics is such that politicians who lose do not have the grace to sincerely accept the outcome and will resort to crying foul play at every possible opportunity. So it's hardly surprising the losers are all getting together in an APC and are calling the elections as rigged.

 

[Lonewarrior]

if someone wants to watch diesel crying thn mst turn on ther tv sets.

 

[Lonewarrior]

PPP and MQM didnt attend the so called APC, now SS saying they will think about the decision of taking oath in few days.
diesel : the "committee" will be formed for the movement for the NEW elections.
lol

 

[Majid Khan]

PPP and MQM didnt attend the so called APC, now SS saying they will think about the decision of taking oath in few days.
diesel : the "committee" will be formed for the movement for the NEW elections.
lol

The problem is what do you to deal with this kind of mindset - its going to be further chaos and anarchy for the country unfortunately , because one thing is for certain these defeated status quo politicians will gang up be as obstuctive as they can to destabilise the PTI govt.

There is no way they will accept these election results with PTI in power, because they know it is a do or die battle for survival -- how will the PTI govt. deal with this, if lets say they start doing a dharna blocking parliament ??

 

[slipcatch]

A lot of other people have corruption cases against them.They were punished for living beyond their means corruption proven.Reports are that in Punjab a lot of PML-N candidates were either asked to run independent to switch parties by the power be . Same with Karachi and Baluchistan . Electable s were nudged towards PTI . This election was managed , not at the poll but ahead of it . I Am not really complaining though , In a country like Pakistan you can't really make it big without the establishments backing .Its the truth of our country , Army is a big stakeholder. Nawaz Sharif was a huge beneficiary of the same system so not really too bothered by that either . I'd rather it be IK than Nawaz. Its just that I prefer to not have my head in the sand about how things are .

Establishment exist in every country, every country, but Establishment can't bring out and force people to vote in democracy.

 

[Lonewarrior]

The problem is what do you to deal with this kind of mindset - its going to be further chaos and anarchy for the country unfortunately , because one thing is for certain these defeated status quo politicians will gang up be as obstuctive as they can to destabilise the PTI govt.

There is no way they will accept these election results with PTI in power, because they know it is a do or die battle for survival -- how will the PTI govt. deal with this, if lets say they start doing a dharna blocking parliament ??

dont worry, everyone is gonna calm down in few days (except diesel). PPP and MQM didnt even attend the APC, even PML-N is not looking to resist anymore, they were talking to take oath and sit on opposition benches. once 2 or 3 parties takes the oath. the noises are gonna die in few days. becoz if they dont stop crying, they knw that "someone" can take over the matters on thre own hands and that will be the end of every pakistani party.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

The irony. So now it is halal to launch agitation? What happened to ‘the economy suffering from agitation’?

 

[Loralai]

A lot of other people have corruption cases against them.They were punished for living beyond their means corruption proven.Reports are that in Punjab a lot of PML-N candidates were either asked to run independent to switch parties by the power be . Same with Karachi and Baluchistan . Electable s were nudged towards PTI . This election was managed , not at the poll but ahead of it . I Am not really complaining though , In a country like Pakistan you can't really make it big without the establishments backing .Its the truth of our country , Army is a big stakeholder. Nawaz Sharif was a huge beneficiary of the same system so not really too bothered by that either . I'd rather it be IK than Nawaz. Its just that I prefer to not have my head in the sand about how things are .

What you have said is true but many will still prefer to ignore this point.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

What you have said is true but many will still prefer to ignore this point.

It will take a few decades of good governance for the political parties to get away from the shadows of establishment.

 

[IMMY69]

A lot of other people have corruption cases against them.They were punished for living beyond their means corruption proven.Reports are that in Punjab a lot of PML-N candidates were either asked to run independent to switch parties by the power be . Same with Karachi and Baluchistan . Electable s were nudged towards PTI . This election was managed , not at the poll but ahead of it . I Am not really complaining though , In a country like Pakistan you can't really make it big without the establishments backing .Its the truth of our country , Army is a big stakeholder. Nawaz Sharif was a huge beneficiary of the same system so not really too bothered by that either . I'd rather it be IK than Nawaz. Its just that I prefer to not have my head in the sand about how things are .

So what you’re saying is that we should be thankful to the army?

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Establishment exist in every country, every country, but Establishment can't bring out and force people to vote in democracy.

They can't but sure can create an environment where one party is gets a head start and others are handicapped. Change perceptions through propaganda and discourage a certain voter demographic from voting . Rigging does not only mean rigging at the ballot box.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

So what you’re saying is that we should be thankful to the army?

I'd rather Army have to role in our political system . If they stayed hands off from the start then we wouldn't even have a Nawaz sharif or MQM or maybe even Bhutto.Political parties that organically grow in a country are much more stable because they eventually have to answer to teh people that are elect them.

 

[Mian]

Dawn in Naya Pakistan

 

[UN talkz]

ISLAMABAD: As the controversy over Form-45 continues to simmer, the Elec*tion Commission of Pakistan has decided to upload the forms containing key data of polling stations on its website in three days.

“It is a requirement of the law and we will fulfil it in the next three days instead of waiting for the last day,” an ECP official told Dawn.

Form-45 contains essential data of each polling station of a constituency of the National Assembly or a provincial assembly.

For the first time in the country’s electoral history, the form provides gender-wise disaggregated data of votes cast at a polling station. The form is also supposed to list names of contesting candidates, the number of valid votes polled in favour of each candidate, number of valid tendered votes polled in favour of each candidate, number of valid challenged votes polled in favour of each candidate, total number of valid votes polled in favour of each candidate and number of votes excluded from the count.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
The ECP official referred to Section 95 (8) of the Elec*tions Act-2017. It reads: “The Returning Officer shall, with**in 24 hours after the consolidation proceedings, send to the Commission signed copies of the consolidated statement of the results of the count and final consolidated result together with results of the count and the ballot paper account, as received from the Presiding Officers, and shall retain copies of these documents for record.”

He said that under Section 95 (10), the ECP was required to place within 14 days from the poling day the documents received from returning officers on its website.

Since polling day, a majority of political parties have been alleging that presiding officers did not provide Form-45 to their candidates and polling agents.

“Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) wholly rejects the results of general elections due to manifest and massive irregularities. Form-45 was not given to our agents, re**sults were stopped and votes were counted in the absence of our poll agents...,” the party chief Shahbaz Sharif tweeted on July 26.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1423786/ecp-to-upload-form-45-on-its-website-in-three-days

 

[Abdullah719]

Major parties form grand opposition slamming 'unprecedented' rigging

ISLAMABAD: Major parties in the opposition on Monday held a meeting and decided to form a grand opposition for formulating a strategy on alleged rigging in the July 25 General Election.

Addressing media, senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Awami National Party said there is no parallel of rigging on this scale in elections in the country, in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Imran Khan claimed victory.

PPP's Yousaf Raza Gilani and MMA chief Fazlur Rehman also decried media censorship.

"The entire world, the nation and ECP [Election Commission of Pakistan] should note that there is no instance of all parties rejecting election results unanimously like this ever," said Fazl.

Those stealing the mandate of masses should be ashamed of themselves, he said.

Gilani said that an all parties conference would be held soon, and a strategy would be formulated to take up the issue of rigging.

The parties will play the role of a strong opposition inside and outside the Parliament, the former prime minister added.

The decision to form a grand alliance was taken during ongoing meetings of the parties at the residence of Ayaz Sadiq. The political parties also agreed to protest inside and outside the assemblies.

The grand opposition will issue a white paper over rigging during the elections and meet for an All Parties Conference in two days.

The strength of the grand opposition will stand at 120 in the National Assembly, compared to 116 seats for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

According to sources, political parties in Balochistan will also be taken into confidence over the grand opposition alliance. Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced that the MMA will not boycott proceedings of the parliament.

The PPP delegation was led by Khursheed Shah includes Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Qamar Zaman Kaira, and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif led his party’s delegation which includes Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Asif among others.

Haji Ghulam Bilour and Mian Iftikhar are representing the ANP, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Anas Noorani are representing the MMA.

It is expected that following the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif will meet his brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was shifted from Adiala prison to PIMS hospital in Islamabad on Sunday.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/205366-pml-n-ppp-mma-and-anp-to-form-grand-opposition

 

[Fahdi]

I'm sure there was some rigging but I feel the overall elections were fair enough when compared with the past. The EU observers make the same point. The hue and cry would suggest that PTI was awarded a hundred seats and ended up with a 2/3rd majority. And just so you know there have been claims of rigging from PTI as well and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that PML-N and PPP stole 5-10 seats. It would be hilarious if after investigations PTI ends up with more seats than it started with

 

[Friend786]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former Indian chief election commissioner <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSYQuraishi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSYQuraishi</a> spoke on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanElections2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanElections2018</a> to WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnasMallick</a>. Listen what he has to say on voter turnout there, concerns and much more!<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/tuqAnRKkzv">https://t.co/tuqAnRKkzv</a></p>— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1023115959442202624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[proud_pakistani]

PML-N won everything in Lahore. How can there have been rigging?

 

[Mamoon]

There is ample evidence to conclude that rigging indeed took place. In 15-20 constituencies, polling agents were thrown out by the military, and I am sure everyone would have come across the videos of army jawaans counting the votes.

However, I don’t think it is right to dampen the spirits of the nation by focusing on the rigging that has taken place.

Whatever rigging took place has been for the betterment of Pakistan. People got what they wanted, and Imran Khan has been giving the opportunity that he deserves.

You cannot sweep the elections the way PTI did because of rigging - they would have won comprehensively anyway.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday asked provincial election commissioners and district returning officers to submit an explanation about the delay in poll results.

In a written order, the electoral body inquired responsible officers why the poll results were delayed beyond 2AM.

A day after the countrywide polls, on July 26, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob had said the results of General Election 2018 were delayed due to a technical glitch.

While speaking to media, he had said the delay had not been caused by any 'wicked conspiracy' or pressure, adding that the delay was a result of a malfunction in the result transmission system while data was entered into it.

"The RTS system had not been tested in Pakistan," he remarked.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, too, complained of delay in results of General Election 2018. He also said his party's candidates had complained that their polling agents had been thrown out of polling stations across the country.

Pakistan voted for the country’s second consecutive democratic transfer of power on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

Polling began at 8AM across the country's 85,307 polling stations and continued until 6PM despite calls by several major parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, to extend the polling time by an hour.

The parties had complained of “a slow voting process” and thus sought more time to facilitate voters — a request that was dismissed by ECP.

The election campaign was marred by violence with three candidates killed in targetted attacks and culminated with a suicide blast outside a polling station in Quetta which claimed at least 30 lives.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/205647-ecp-asks-provincial-ecs-dros-to-explain-delay-in-poll-results

 

[giri26]

Senators agree to debate 'rigging' in parliament

ISLAMABAD: Expressing serious concerns over the way the July 25 polls were held, a Senate panel has agreed that since the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a party to the matter, the issue of alleged rigging in the election must be debated and sorted out in parliament.

This was resolved in a meeting of the Senate Forum for Policy Research held on Wednesday at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies and chaired by Senator Tahir Mashhadi.

Members of the forum also agreed that the way activities were carried out in the pre-election campaign on the election day and onwards ‘clearly suggest’ what was going on and who was being ushered in.

Mashhadi, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), said witch-hunting in the name of accountability and hounding out candidates of a particular party were among the many signs that suggested favourable results were being chalked out.

PML-N, PPP convince MMA to join parliament, form ‘grand opposition alliance’

“Nobody has blamed any other party for the rigging but the extra-constitutional forces played their part and they are to be blamed for all this (mess),” the chairperson said.

He suggested that since the ECP had declared the elections free and fair and it was a party in the case, therefore parliament should look into the issue in detail. “As the saying goes no one should be judge in his own case,” he added.

He appreciated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s offer to open those constituencies where candidates and parties have alleged rigging. “It will auger well for democracy if he (Khan) really does this.”

Senator Nuzhat Sadqi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the arrests of her party workers and disqualification of Hanif Abbasi just before the election were some of the clear signs what was in the making. She said the PML-N will issue a White Paper on all the happenings that led to the ‘favourable results’.

Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said there was a clear pattern in the elections where there were certain beneficiaries that included the Awami National Party (ANP).

Talking in details about the irregularities in Balochistan and the lives lost to suicide blasts in the Mastung and Quetta blasts ahead of polls, Kakar said: “We cannot conquer those powers and if we tend to conquer them we will be defeated. There is only one way which is an unblemished and uncompromising career.”

He said parliament should debate as to how they could have an environment in the elections where free and fair polls are held without any external or internal influence.

ANP’s Senator Ilyas Bilour also chided invisible forces harassing his party’s workers and candidates and said after the elections ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain planned to protest against the alleged rigging but he was served a letter warning him that a suicide attacker was out to blow him up.

“This is insane as terrorism is being used as a tool to keep us away from raising our voice,” he said.

PML-N, PPP convince MMA to join parliament, form ‘grand opposition alliance’

He also criticised Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar for withdrawing security of political figures. “It was nothing but giving terrorists some soft targets,” he said.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak, another ANP member, claimed that there was ‘method in the madness’ which was evident from the pre- and post-election happenings. “I think everybody knows what is going on and who is doing it but nobody can say anything which is disappointing and hurting.”

The committee concluded that they would compile the minutes of the meeting and send them to the Senate for further action and debate in the house. The committee also noted that the election could be discussed in the Committee of The Whole.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1771490/1-senators-agree-debate-rigging-parliament/

 

[MenInG]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday directed the Cabinet Division to form an inquiry committee to investigate the causes of alleged failure of the Result transmission System (RTS) during July 25 general elections.

The ECP said the Cabinet Division should form a committee comprising technical experts from National Telecom and Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

The committee has been asked to analyse the RTS project, the "concept of RTS in terms of its implementability", its preparation and finalisation by National Database Regulatory Authority (Nadra), the quality and extent of training imparted to its users, the "train of events taking place on the night of July 25 and thereafter", fix responsibility [for any malfunction] and make recommendations for future, according to the terms of reference decided by the commission, read a letter written to the Cabinet Division secretary.

The inquiry, ordered under the powers extended to the commission under Article 220 and 218 (3) of the constitution, will have to be completed within four weeks, the letter issued from Director Elections Nadeem Qasim's office said.

The controversy around the RTS, a mobile application created by Nadra and employed by the ECP to relay results [Form 45s] from polling stations to the commission, had begun when ECP secretary claimed late into July 25 that the system had 'malfunctioned'.

Political parties, including the PPP and the PML-N, have since demanded a parliamentary commission into the matter while Nadra officials have denied that the RTS crashed on election eve. They instead went on to claim that it could have been the commission's Result Management System (RMS) that may have crashed adding that Nadra received results from around 50 per cent of polling stations before the commission directed its officers to stop using RTS.

The ECP has continued to insist that the delay in announcement of results, which had cast doubts on the fairness of the entire electoral process, had been because of the fault in RTS.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1424492/ecp-directs-cabinet-division-to-investigate-rts-alleged-failure

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Ofcourse there was unprecedented rigging ...... by the voters of Pakistan in favour of PTI.

Funny how the undemocratic EU institution plays a judge on a democratic process... they have a habit of asking for a revote if they don't like the result. The numnuts are still hoping the UK will go for a second referendum.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

dont worry, everyone is gonna calm down in few days (except diesel). PPP and MQM didnt even attend the APC, even PML-N is not looking to resist anymore, they were talking to take oath and sit on opposition benches. once 2 or 3 parties takes the oath. the noises are gonna die in few days. becoz if they dont stop crying, they knw that "someone" can take over the matters on thre own hands and that will be the end of every pakistani party.

Diesel is a Latoon ko boot... needs Chitrol and then he will come to his senses.

It's hell funny watching him and his party on TV expressing surprise at how they could possibly lose!!

he accuses IK of being a puppet, but wik leaks showed how he was begging the Americans to put him forward for PM under Mush.... some nerve these guys have.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q’s for PPP & PMLN <br><br>• How come PPP won more seats in Sindh than last time? It surely can’t be based on performance &#55358;&#56631;&#55356;&#57339;*<br><br>• ECP Chair, Nat’l & Prov Caretaker set ups, Army Chief, DG-ISI...all appointment by previous PMLN/PPP govts!<br><br>So who’s rigged it?</p>— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliHZaidiPTI/status/1025148511610957824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Counter-attack

 

[Abdullah719]

Political parties hold protest demonstrations against alleged rigging

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other allied parties marched on the streets of various cities and areas of Sindh the other day to record their protest against the results of the 2018 general elections.

The supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party-Workers (PPP-W), Qaumi Awami Tehreek and MMA among other parties participated in the demonstration.

Their leaders of various political parties accused that the elections were massively rigged, terming the process ‘selection’ in the guise of an election.

“The people of Sindh have vociferously rejected the rigged elections through their protests across the province,” asserted GDA General Secretary Ayaz Latif Palijo while addressing protestors in Hyderabad. “The people will not accept the Sindh Assembly whose members have been elected through rigging.”

He alleged that PPP emerged as the leading party as a result of political engineering. Palijo urged the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan to take notice of the rampant manipulation. “The GDA demands fresh elections in Sindh,” he said. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have given a free hand to the PPP’s leaders who are charged in several corruption cases.

“The army chief, chief justice and chief election commissioner had assured that the election will be fair and transparent. But all of them failed,” alleged PPP-W leader Naheed Khan.

MMA Hyderabad President Hafiz Tahir Majeed said that the announcement of the election result was deliberately delayed to pave way for the victory of a particular party. “If selection had to take place then why did Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) waste Rs20 billion over the election process?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, the GDA leadership and hundreds of its party workers and supporters condemned the results in a protest outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC).

They said they will carry out a movement across the province if their demands were not met.

The GDA leadership demanded the resignation of the election commissioner and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto action while protesting outside KPC on Friday.

In Larkana, MMA’s candidate for the NA-200 seat, Soomro, alleged that his mandate was stolen by the ECP by giving artificial victory to another party’s candidate.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/20...otest-demonstrations-against-alleged-rigging/

 

[MenInG]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1426383/abbasi-sattar-among-former-mnas-evicted-from-parliament-lodges

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday formed tribunals to address the petitions filed by elections candidates in the aftermath of the July 25 polls.

Nine judges of the LHC circuit have been appointed to hear election-related disputes.

Four judges — including Justice Mamoonur Rasid Sheikh, Justice Tariq Abbasi, Justice Shahid Jameel Khan and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal — will take the principle seats in the tribunals.

Three judges from the LHC's Multan bench will hear cases there. These include Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem, Justice Mujahid Mustakeem Ahmed and Justice Tariq Iftikhar Ahmed.

Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti will be working as the election tribunal in Bahawalpur, while the Rawalpindi election tribunal will be run by Justice Mirza Waqas.

The tribunals were formed after LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali's approval

 

[Arham_PakFan]

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has completed its initial probe into the failure of the Result Transmission System (RTS) during the recent general elections.

According to the sources, the application called the RTS mobile application has been held primarily responsible for the failure of the whole system.

According to the investigation, the system stopped working on more than 50,000 polling stations on election day, while the application got struck at many polling stations where mobile and the internet service was available.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court formed tribunals to hear the petitions filed by candidates of the general elections.

The tribunals were formed after LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali’s approval. A total of nine judges have been appointed to hear the election-related petitions. The principal seats in the tribunal will be taken by Justice Mamoonur Rashid Sheikh, Justice Tariq Abbasi, Justice Shahid Jameel Khan and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal.

Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem, Justice Mujahid Mustakeem Ahmed and Justice Tariq Iftikhar Ahmed from the LHC’s Multan bench would hear the cases there. The Rawalpindi election tribunal will be run by Justice Mirza Waqas while Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti would be serving as the election tribunal in Bahawalpur.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1778878/1-ecp-completes-initial-probe-rts-fiasco/

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

ROs from Karachi blame RTS failure for delay in compilation of election results

KARACHI: Failure of the Result Transmission System (RTS) on the night of July 25 came under further spotlight and this time straight from the horse’s mouth as returning officers (ROs) of some constituencies in Karachi blamed the newly-developed application which, according to some of them, was working well minutes before 12 midnight, documents showed on Sunday.

In their “explanation” to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), some ROs from Karachi shared their experiences on the night of July 25 when their efforts to compile results failed to meet the set deadline mostly due to their reliance on the RTS.

One such officer, while explaining her position, recalled the details of that night which suggested that the RTS came to a standstill all of a sudden. “I received results of 13 polling stations out of 98 polling stations of the NA-242 constituency through RTS at 11.57pm and they were uploaded on the Result Management System (RMS),” she said. But the results of the remaining polling stations of the constituency could not be uploaded by 2am. Because results were not available till 2am it was not possible for her to generate Form-47 on the RMS, she added.

The RO of NA-243, the Karachi east constituency from where Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman and prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan emerged victorious, had a similar story to share. He said it was “non-functioning of RTS” that failed him to meet the deadline set for compiling the final results.

Amid so much stories to share about the failure of RTS, the ROs, however, did not come up with any reason behind the alleged expulsion of political parties’ polling agents from polling stations during the vote count.

As reported in a section of press and claimed by the officials earlier, none of the ROs in their replies mentioned any directives from the authorities to stop using the RTS “as a problem has occurred” in the system. They simply blamed crash of the RTS which compelled them to manually transmit of the results to relevant authorities which caused so much delay.

“The presiding officers were at the mercy of law-enforcement agencies, especially army officials who were responsible for escorting presiding officers and senior presiding officers of polling stations in safe custody,” mentioned an RO in the explanation to ECP.

The RO of Sindh Assembly constituency PS-100 blamed the failure of RTS and the delayed movement of polling staff as two key reasons behind the delay of the results. “The results of the election could not be compiled and communicated as per scheduled time till 2am due to failure of RTS,” said the officer.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1426696/r...-for-delay-in-compilation-of-election-results

 

[UN talkz]

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Monday chaired a meeting of the party's parliamentary board — hours after the newly-elected MNAs swore oath in the National Assembly — to discuss the PML-N 's future strategy as part of the opposition.

Addressing the meeting, attended by the PML-N lawmakers, Shahbaz alleged that "historical rigging" took place during the July 25 elections. He, however, said that the party MNAs had sworn the oath to "devotedly play the role for which the nation has elected them".

The PML-N president was of the opinion that in addition to "rigging being a major factor behind PML-N's defeat in the election", the party also suffered due to some of its own shortcomings.

"One of the reasons due to which the party's campaign suffered was Nawaz's arrest," Shahbaz said. He also announced that a committee will be formed to look at the factors behind the unfavourable election results.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
At this point, members in the meeting pointed out that senior leaders had laid more focus on their own constituencies instead of contributing to the party's campaign which affected the poll results. They suggested that Shahbaz should "take action against the incompetent people sitting by his side".

Shahbaz reminded the party members that the election for the speaker and deputy speaker will be held on Wednesday and urged them to support the candidates fielded by the party for the posts.

"The speaker and deputy speaker will be elected through secret ballot. I request [you all] to cast your vote for the candidates that we have elected through consensus," Shahbaz said. He also asked his party members to "be punctual" for the session on August 15.

"The PML-N will perform its role like a mature political party," he maintained.

Shahbaz claimed that contrary to the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, the prime minister will not be elected through secret ballot and the "world will watch it". The election for the prime minister will be held on Aug 17.

The former Punjab chief minister also promised to address the reservations of "angry workers" of the party. At the same time, he insisted that the members "follow the line" laid out by the party leadership.

The party members also complained that the leadership did not take the party into confidence when it formed an alliance with the PPP. Shahbaz assured the members that the leadership had kept the party's interests in consideration while taking decisions.

The PML-N lawmakers questioned why the party had failed to get the support of any of the independent candidates despite the PML-N being the ruling party in the province for the past decade.

Shahbaz responded to this by saying that the party had contacted independent candidates, however, they had all refused to extend their support to the PML-N. "Some of the candidates said things I can't even repeat here," he claimed.

The PML-N members also expressed displeasure at the party's lack of protest during the oath-taking ceremony earlier in the day, saying that the PPP raised slogans on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's arrival in the assembly, while the PML-N leaders "sat quietly". Shahbaz tried to placate the members, saying that the "time to protest had not arrived yet".

The lawmakers termed PPP leader Khursheed Shah's role as the opposition leader in the previous government as "admirable" and hoped that Shahbaz would do a similar job.

Nawaz deserves better treatment
Shahbaz also condemned that Nawaz Sharif was brought to the accountability court today in an armoured vehicle, asking if a thrice-elected prime minister deserved such treatment.

"The federal and Punjab government should understand that Nawaz Sharif deserves to be treated better."

The attendees of the meeting demanded that the party should run an "effective campaign" for Nawaz because he "meant a lot to [party] members". They lamented that the party had done nothing but sit around while Nawaz was brought to court and then taken back to jail.

Shahbaz, at this point, announced to go to the accountability court on the next hearing, that is to be held on August 15. He told party members to arrive at the accountability court by 8am on Wednesday.

"Your criticism has affected Shahbaz Sharif," he said. "We will go to the accountability court first and then got to attend the speaker and deputy speaker's election."

He further said that the PML-N members will attend the assembly session on Wednesday with black bands tied on their arms.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1426791/s...and-partys-shortcomings-for-pml-n-poll-defeat

 

[giri26]

It does not matter anymore. These accusations are part of elections everywhere in the world.