Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf general secretary and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja has expressed strong concerns over the validity of Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, alleging widespread irregularities and manipulation of results.
He claimed that those who could have united the country were instead sidelined, and the events of February 8 represented a blatant act of electoral brutality.
Referring to a report released by PATTAN, a non-government organization (NGO)," Raja highlighted alarming findings regarding the electoral process. He also lauded "Such TV" for producing an insightful election documentary.
While acknowledging that voters came out in great strength to cast their ballots, he pointed out that election-day proceedings were largely smooth, but irregularities surfaced post-voting.
"Ballot boxes were opened at every polling station, and Form 45—used to record polling results—was altered," he alleged.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja further stated that presiding officers transported ballot boxes and Form 45 to returning officers. Still, the counting process was not conducted transparently in the presence of candidates.
Raja also recounted an incident where he and his associates were present at a returning officer's office when we were forcibly thrown out, grabbed by our collars saying that there was gunfire.
“Yet no investigation was conducted into who fired the shots," he revealed, adding that similar incidents occurred in 90% of the country.
According to Raja, election officials later announced that the remaining procedures would be conducted in secrecy.
He explained the significance of Form 46, which details the number of ballots used, votes cast, and rejected ballots.
"Even today, the Election Commission's website shows discrepancies between Form 45 and Form 46, indicating a mismatch in votes counted and overall results," he asserted.
He condemned the election as a "mercilessly stolen mandate" and urged the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the matter.
"This theft cannot remain hidden; the voice of Pakistan has been suppressed," he said.
He also questioned the validity of the newly formed assemblies, arguing, "How can it be possible for the National Assembly's voter turnout to be 80% while the Provincial Assembly's turnout in the same constituency stands at 40%?"
Raja expressed frustration that their petitions regarding electoral fraud were not being heard. "I filed all necessary evidence with the Election Commission, but instead of taking our concerns seriously, they ridiculed us, suggesting we had fabricated 400 forms overnight," he remarked.
He further criticized the Election Commission for its inaction, stating that when the election tribunal was established, only two judges were appointed for Punjab—a province with a population of 120 million. "We demanded more judges, but the government insisted on controlling the nominations," he said.
He also mentioned that when Justice Shehzad Ahmed Khan suggested impartial names for the tribunal, they found the decision satisfactory. However, the government took the matter to the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa ruled against it, further complicating the issue.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif