Salman Akram Raja, a key figure in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, addressed the press in Islamabad to shed light on what PTI alleges as electoral irregularities during the recent general elections. Raja strongly criticized what he described as an assault on democracy through alleged rigging tactics employed during the election process.
During his briefing, Raja singled out the conduct of returning officers, claiming that rigging occurred within their offices during the February 8 general elections. He argued that PTI was unfairly stripped of its election symbol shortly before the polls. Despite this setback, Raja asserted that PTI received substantial support from voters, who turned out in large numbers to vote for the party.
Raja highlighted a specific incident concerning the NA-128 constituency. He initially held a significant lead with over 100,000 votes. However, overnight, the results dramatically changed, with Aun Chaudhry declared the winner based on what Raja deemed a suspicious Form 47. He alleged that this form did not accurately reflect the votes cast on February 8 and had been tampered with.
After the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) initially declared Aun Chaudhry as the victor in NA-128. However, this victory announcement was later retracted following a challenge by Salman Akram Raja, an independent candidate backed by PTI. The Islamabad High Court upheld Raja’s challenge, nullifying Aun Chaudhry’s victory due to electoral procedure violations by the returning officer. Raja’s assertions and subsequent legal actions underscore PTI’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and accurate vote counting. The episode also highlights the contentious nature of elections in Pakistan, where allegations of rigging often lead to prolonged legal disputes.