PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser stated on Thursday that a broad alliance of political parties would be established against election “rigging”.
Speaking to the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Qaiser emphasized that the PTI would engage with all parties whose mandates had been compromised, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, to form the grand alliance and conduct a coordinated campaign. He lamented the absence of a functioning state.
Qaiser insisted that those who had legitimately won elections based on the “original” Forms-45 should have the right to form the government. He criticized the current coalition led by the PML-N, stating they lacked the authority to govern and appoint a cabinet. Additionally, he expressed disappointment at the prison administration’s refusal to allow him to meet with PTI founding chairman Imran Khan.
Acknowledging that his party’s MPAs were sworn in by the governor, Qaiser clarified that this was a constitutional requirement. He also pointed out that the current federal cabinet had taken oath under the presidency of Dr. Arif Alvi, who belongs to the PTI.
In another development, a PTI spokesperson called for a comprehensive and impartial audit of the results of the allegedly “most rigged” elections, citing the assessment report of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat). The spokesperson urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address the concerns raised in the report and restore the people’s mandate to their rightful representatives.
Referring to the Pildat assessment report, the spokesperson highlighted a significant decline in the fairness score of the 2024 general elections compared to previous years. This, according to the PTI, underscored the illegitimacy of the current government and the role of the ECP in facilitating election rigging.
The spokesperson criticized various irregularities during the elections, including delays in the election schedule and the suspension of cellular and internet services on polling day. They also condemned the publication of tampered Forms-45 by the ECP, alleging manipulation of election results.
Concluding, the PTI spokesperson asserted that a government formed on a “stolen” mandate lacked the credibility to make decisions for the nation’s welfare. They warned against the distribution of reserved seats among political parties, which they believed would exacerbate political instability and chaos.
