PTI's Ali Mohammad Khan Accuses Election Commission of Mandate Manipulation

PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan highlighted that the significant issue is reclaiming the mandate rather than re-election. PTI and JUI-F both claim electoral fraud. Ali Mohammad Khan accused the Election Commission of discarding crucial documents during the elections. PTI's Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasized recognizing Imran Khan's role for political stability.

Central leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Ali Mohammad Khan, emphasized that the primary concern is not re-election but reclaiming the mandate, ARY News reported. Speaking on the ARY News program 'Aiteraz Hai,' Khan stated that both PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) believe there was fraud in the electoral process, although their perspectives are not fully aligned.

Khan alleged in the ARY News program that the Pakistan Election Commission and its procedures manipulated the clear mandate that PTI received. He claimed that a crucial Form 45 was discarded during the elections, leading to what he described as the 'theft' of PTI's mandate. He asserted that if the mandate is restored to PTI, the party would secure a majority in the House, according to ARY News.

He mentioned ongoing discussions with Fazlur Rehman and stated that PTI would apologize if proven wrong, referencing the May 9 incident. Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticized the current government's alleged tactics to suppress PTI. He asserted that the country could not achieve political stability without recognizing Imran Khan's role.

'Imran Khan is a political reality,' Qureshi told journalists during an informal interaction at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. He argued that without accepting this reality, political stability cannot be achieved. Qureshi also criticized the numerous cases filed against him following the May 9 riots, noting that no cases had been registered against him in his 40 years in politics until the past year.

The former ruling party faces a crackdown for its alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, which saw military installations, including Rawalpindi's General Headquarters (GHQ) and Lahore Corps Commander's House, being vandalized by mobs.

(With inputs from agencies.)