LAHORE: Senior lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed election contestant, Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, has raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming general elections, urging for the deployment of neutral election staff to ensure a fair and rigging-free election day.
At a press conference held at his residence in Lahore’s DHA on Monday, Khosa emphasised a zero-tolerance policy towards any attempts at rigging during the electoral process.
Khosa asserted that February 8 would bring surprises, especially for the PML-N, as he predicted the return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to London. He humorously contrasted Sharif’s previous stance of “mujhay kion nikala” (why was I ousted) with the current situation of “mujhay kion bulaya” (why was I called back).
Highlighting concerns over potential massive-scale rigging, Khosa pointed out discrepancies in the voter registration process. He claimed that around 60,000 voters from the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) fell within his constituency (NA-122), yet each voter had been registered in separate polling stations.
Expressing displeasure over delimitation issues, he noted that voters from one area had been wrongly registered in another, with many polling stations for DHA voters located in rural areas.
Khosa said over his complaint, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had instructed the Deputy Commissioner to investigate the matter, but no concrete action had been taken. He insisted on the need for neutral polling and presiding officers to prevent any manipulation of the public’s mandate, pledging increased vigilance on election day.
Additionally, Khosa revealed that he had directed the district presidents of his party to take necessary actions, including expelling those he referred to as “wrong numbers” – individuals who did not withdraw themselves in favour of the candidates endorsed by the party.
During the press conference, senior lawyer advocate Azhar Siddique announced his withdrawal in favour of Khosa in the NA-122 contest. Siddique expressed gratitude to the Sunni Itehad Council, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, and other political parties that had withdrawn their candidates in support of Khosa.
