KARACHI: Shanawaz Jadoon, an independent candidate sponsored by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has claimed that he was declared a loser in Karachi’s PS-115 (Keamari) constituency because he refused to abandon his party and split ways with incarcerated founder Imran Khan.
In a video message circulated on social media, the politician said he had been threatened with losing his provincial assembly position if he did not join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.
“I’ve been receiving phone calls since the morning telling me to quit Imran Khan. “I told them that I would never leave Imran Khan under any circumstances,” he added in the video statement.
Jadoon stated that he received his findings and Form 47 yesterday night. He further stated that he was threatened with changing his seat and “forced to join” the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.
Despite being compelled to vacate the seat, the politician stated that he supports Imran Khan and his workers who fought tirelessly to get him elected by the people of the constituency.
“I would die, but never leave Imran Khan’s side. Thousands of such seats can be sacrificed for Imran Khan and the people of my constituency,” he remarked, adding that he had no desire to become a provincial assembly member.
Jadoon won the PS-115 seat by gaining 20,609 votes against PPP’s Muhammad Asif Khan on February 8.
However, the PPP claimed that its candidate was proclaimed the winner during the recounting.
In a third recording, ascribed to Jadoon and published this morning, the politician purportedly stated that he was receiving phone calls from several private lines pressing him to join other political parties and leave the PTI.
Jadoon stated that when he refused, they threatened to grab his seat.
“I have all three forms: 47, 48, and 49. Even though no recounting is conducted following the release of From 48,” he stated.
However, Jadoon stated that at 3:30pm, he was notified verbally by the returning officer’s office that the vote recount will take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
“I received no letter nor was I informed about it,” he stated, adding that the position was taken away from him when he refused to leave Imran Khan.
In the tape, the politician also discussed “rigging” and “tampering” in Form 45, saying that he was declared the winner in Form 47 on February 9 night with a lead of approximately 1,700 to 1,800 votes.
