Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, smelt a conspiracy of rigging in NA-122 by-elections, where his party candidate was defeated by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ayaz Sadiq. "We are investigating the number of PTI votes thrown out of NA-122 at the last minute & will then approach the ECP," Imran wrote on his verified Twitter account.
He, however said that PTI would learn from its mistakes and counter "rigging tactics" adopted by the PML-N. "We will learn from our mistakes & counter those rigging tactics by PMLN that we were not prepared for again," he said. Terming Aleem Khan's close defeat to Ayaz Sadiq as a "moral victory for PTI", Imran said that the by-election would help strengthen his party.
He congratulated PTI candidate for tough fight against what he called Punjab and Federal governments. He also felicitated his party candidate Shoaib Siddiqui for winning by-election in PP-147 Lahore. Refuting Imran Khan's claim, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said exclusion of voters from lists is not possible, thus, the PTI chief should not waste nation's time.
Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Monday, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid asked Imran Khan to leave negative politics and do positive politics for the betterment of the country. The Minister called upon PTI to play its part in the Parliament and give suggestions to overcome the challenges of terrorism, energy shortage, unemployment, poverty and ignorance so that the Government may speed up the development work.