Tahir Iqbal was confident he would clinch victory in Vehari NA-158 with a margin of at least 50,000 votes, firmly believing that his opponent would be unable to achieve such a substantial feat despite employing various pre- and post-poll tactics.
His optimism stemmed from a thorough analysis of the ground situation, where he enjoyed widespread support according to independent surveys.
Tahir’s electoral track record added weight to his confidence, having secured victory twice in the provincial assembly elections of 2002 and 2008 in Vehari. In the subsequent elections, he contested as an independent candidate in 2013 and as a PTI representative in 2018, emerging victorious on both occasions from the same constituency.
The encompassing constituency comprised Vehari City, Thengi, Karampur, Mitro, and approximately 300 villages.
Tahir, addressing the media at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Wednesday, lamented that his defeat was marred by extensive rigging, fake balloting, and a blatant violation of the sanctity of the vote. “Midnight miracles” were performed to change the results in favor of PML-N candidate Tehmina Daultana, he said.
Pre-poll and post-poll “miracles” in NA-158:
Iqbal revealed that a significant upheaval occurred in the run-up to the NA-158 election when the staff at 104 polling stations, including presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, were unexpectedly transferred just a day before the polling day on February 8.
In an attempt to subvert the electoral process, Iqbal’s political adversaries allegedly orchestrated the casting of approximately 35,000 fake ballots, underestimating his resilience. However, despite these efforts, he contended that the issues persisted when Form 45 reached the returning officer’s office.
“As the final result compilation commenced at the RO office, I found myself still in the lead,” asserted Iqbal. The situation took a dubious turn when, at midnight, the RO office was sealed, barring entry in direct violation of the law. Subsequently, the results of 26 polling stations were allegedly manipulated in favor of Tehmina Daultana, as Iqbal presented evidence in the form of Form 45.
Iqbal underscored that, according to Form 45, he had secured victory even in the native villages of two provincial assembly candidates who were contesting polls under Daultana’s NA seat on PML-N tickets.
Tactics to keep Tahir and his brother Zahid Iqbal out of the race:
Tahir Iqbal and his brother Zahid Iqbal, both endorsed by PTI as candidates for NA-158 and PP-234 Vehari, found themselves entangled in a series of challenges orchestrated by their political opponents even before the elections commenced.
Initially, multiple spurious cases were allegedly registered against them to exert pressure and coerce them into withdrawing their support for PTI.
Zahid recounted their initial attempt to file nomination papers through his lawyers, where papers were snatched, and the lawyers’ homes were raided by the police.
Subsequently, a determined group of supporters and lawyers managed to successfully file the nomination papers, only to face rejection from both national and provincial assembly seats by the RO office.
Zahid detailed their legal journey, challenging the rejection at the Lahore High Court Multan bench, which allowed them to contest the NA seat but denied them the opportunity for the PA seat. Persisting in their pursuit of justice, they appealed to the Lahore High Court full bench, which also granted them the right to contest the NA seat but upheld the rejection for the PA seat.
Taking the matter to the Supreme Court, they found themselves before the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who summoned the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Despite their willingness to bear the cost of re-printing which the ECP had initially cited as the challenge, the papers at PA seat were not accepted.
Zahid noted the acceptance of pleas by the top court against the rejection of nomination papers on the same day, allowing candidates to participate in the polls.
Zahid lamented their unique predicament as candidates allowed to contest at the national assembly level but barred from the provincial assembly—an anomaly in Pakistani electoral history. Despite exhausting all legal avenues, they felt justice was elusive. Eventually, Tahir contested the NA elections. Like many other PTI-backed independents, he was allegedly prohibited from running an election campaign.
The 2024 election witnessed widespread allegations of massive rigging, with Vehari serving as a stark example of blatant malpractice, according to Zahid.
Tahir has formally challenged the alleged “fake results” of his rival Tehmina before the Election Commission of Pakistan, with the hearing scheduled for Thursday, February 22.
Tahir remains steadfast in his commitment to reclaim the people’s mandate, vowing to make every effort to ensure justice prevails.
