According to a report from Pakistan-based Geo News, Omar Ayub Khan, a leader from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a lawmaker of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), has criticized the newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, labeling him as a “product” of Form 47.
Form 47 is a significant document that outlines unconfirmed results of a constituency, including details on the number of votes cast and invalidated. PTI alleges that its mandate was compromised in the February 8 elections and that the results were manipulated through Form 47s.
PTI claims to have won 180 seats in the National Assembly according to the data from Form 45s, also known as the Presiding Officer’s Results of the Count. Form 45 contains information about votes cast in a polling station and the votes received by each candidate separately, verified by the presiding officer.
Form 47, on the other hand, records the vote count from all polling stations in a constituency by the Returning Officer, representing the provisional consolidated result of the constituency without postal ballots.
Following the defeat in the PM election, Omar Ayub criticized the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, considering it a continuation of the previous regime led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Highlighting alleged discrepancies against PTI, Ayub mentioned their demand for reserved seats during the speaker and deputy speaker’s election, which was denied by then-National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. He also pointed out objections raised against Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination papers and the deprivation of PTI’s election symbol, amidst other grievances.
Ayub questioned the fairness of the previous government, labeling it as “fascist” and accusing it of orchestrating the rejection of PTI candidates’ nomination papers. He called for an independent inquiry into the May 9 protests, which erupted following the arrest of former PM Imran Khan in a settlement case.
During his address, Ayub demanded the speaker’s ruling for a live telecast of his speech, similar to that of the Pakistan PM’s, highlighting what he perceived as double standards in the country’s laws. He emphasized the alleged fear within the PML-N party and suggested that PTI’s strength could have been higher if MNAs elected as per Form 45s had participated.
Furthermore, Ayub urged for an impartial inquiry into the killing of numerous PTI supporters on May 9, along with the release of over 10,000 detained PTI workers and supporters, as well as the release of former PM Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
