Apologizing to Riaz Kiyani doesn't mean rigging allegations wrong: Afzal Khan
The former secretary Afzal Khan termed his apology as respecting ECP member Riaz Kiyani's age.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Former Additional Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Afzal Khan on Saturday that apologizing to Riaz Kiyani in the court does not mean he has taken back rigging allegations.
According to details, the former secretary Afzal Khan termed his apology as respecting ECP member Riaz Kiyani’s age.
Afzal Khan revealed that three more ECP officials including Fakhar-ud-Din Ibrahim were also involved in rigging.
Earlier, Afzal Khan had alleged Justice (r) Riaz Kiyani of conniving in the alleged rigging of elections in 2013 upon which Riaz Kiyani moved to the court. Riaz Kiyani maintained that the allegations levelled by Afzal Khan were baseless and he also filed a defamation suit worth Rs 20 million against him.
After thorough consideration, Afzal Khan finally decided to take the U-Turn and apologised unconditionally before the court.
Riaz Kiyani also forgave him ‘in the name of Allah’. He said that Afzal Khan’s apology had proved his innocence. And thus this drama that had started in the media finally ended in the court.
Riaz Kiyani swiftly came to defend himself and said in a press conference that “Afzal Khan is lying”. He said that Afzal Khan’s claim that his salary was Rs 1 million was an “exaggeration”. He admitted that he was receiving a pension with salary at the same time, saying that it was legal. He was refereeing to a presidential order which gave permission to retired government officials to take both pension and salary at the same time.
Riaz Kiyani also dismissed another allegation made by Afzal Khan that he was responsible for the sabotage of the entire 2013 general elections. He said that Afzal’s allegations and statements were child’s play from his enemies. He said that PTI leader Imran Khan was accusing him of rigging the election because someone was poisoning his ear.
He demanded that Supreme Court should take suo motu action against Afzal Khan as he accused two Supreme Court judges in a live TV program.
Riaz Kiyani filed a petition against Afzal Khan’s allegation saying that he defamed him and hurt his sentiments. After this petition, Afzal Khan made a big U-Turn and apologised unconditionally to Riaz Kiyani, saying he was wrong and was mislead.
