Tribunal punished me, voters for election staff's negligence: Saad Rafique
The court gave verdict in his opponent's favour due to the ROs negligence, says minister
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Monday has said that the election tribunal punished him and his voters for returning officers (ROs) negligence.
He expressed these views while talking to the media in the provincial capital.
He said that it is on the discretion of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz whether to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) regarding his dismissal from seat. He said that the court ordered in his opponent’s favour due to the returning officers (ROs) negligence. The minister said that the court has done injustice. He said that he is open to both the options, either approaching the SCP or holding of re-election in the constituency.
Rafique said that he does not accept tribunal’s verdict. Negligence was proved on parts of seven polling stations’ ROs out of a total of 265. He said that the tribunal has punished him for ROs negligence. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Hamid Khan could not prove his rigging allegations against him. The punishment has been given to him and his voters whereas the crime was committed by the ROs.
While talking about his ministry, Rafique said that he has done enough for Railways in a short span of time that it would function well if he disappears from the scene for some time.
The federal minister further said that demand of the judicial commission (JC) by PTI was a political stunt for which there was no need.
