Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) provincial organiser Chaudhry Sarwar has called an all-parties conference (APC) on October 22 to develop a strategy regarding its allegation of changes in voter lists during the NA-122 by-polls.Several opposition parties, including the Jamaat-i-Islami, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek have been invited to the APC.Sarwar said the PTI had called the meeting to share the findings of its team with regard to changes in the lists. The participating parties would then announce their future strategy, he said. Later, speaking at a corner meeting in Allama Iqbal Town, Sarwar said the PTI had launched a campaign to reach out to people ahead of local government elections. The party alleges that it has gathered proof of large-scale vote transfer from Lahore’s constituency, NA-122. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has, however, rebuffed all allegations of vote shifting from the constituency. They maintain that ECP gave PTI and PML-N different electoral lists and each list provided to PTI had 200 less votes. A large number of ghost voters also surfaced during the investigation, that was entered at fake addresses.
While one must appreciate the party’s tenacity and perseverance to not give up in the pursuit for ‘truth’, it has by all measures gone too far.PTI could have accepted the loss graciously, as they have much to celebrate. PTI leader Abdul Aleem Khan lost from a very narrow margin in a constituency that is often termed as the ‘Throne of Lahore’ and gave the ruling party a run for their money. That is surely reason enough to look forward to the next election and bring about a real change in their constituencies in the mean time, so they can seal the deal come the next moment of truth. It must end the tiring blame game now.
pk.shafaqna.com
