Pakistan

Undeterred by ECP ban, Imran vows to run by-elections campaign

Says being barred from running by-election campaigns as party chief is incomprehensible to him

Ali Usman/web Desk September 19, 2015

PTI chairman Imran Khan addressing a press conference in Lahore. PHOTO: PTI

LAHORE: Despite a ban on all parliamentarians from visiting and participating in campaigning for by-elections in NA-122 (Lahore) and NA-154 (Lodhran-I), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan announced on Saturday that he would run a campaign for the impending by-elections at full throttle.

“We will run the campaign for by-elections because it is necessary if we want democracy in our country,” Imran said while addressing a press conference in Lahore, adding that legally there was no provision to stop him from doing so.

He said, as per their legal experts, there is no legal hitch for him to run the campaign for his candidates, and added that being restricted by the ECP from running the by-election campaigns was incomprehensible.

Read: ECP notification: Lawmakers barred from visiting NA-122, NA-154

“I am not a president or prime minister who can be restricted from running the campaign. I am a party leader who has to convey the party’s manifesto to the masses,” he said.

The directives for the ban were given in light of a new code of conduct issued recently by the ECP.

The PTI chief further said he would write to the IG Punjab and the ECP about police officials harassing people and turning them against from voting for PTI.

Read: Imran announces protest outside ECP headquarters on October 4

“We have a tape from Hafizabad showing a DPO campaigning for the PML-N. We will write to the ECP regarding this issue and reveal the names of people associated with the PML-N who are illegally campaigning for the elections,” he said.

Reiterating his party’s stance on holding a protest outside ECP headquarters in Islamabad on October 4, Imran said, “ECP members who conducted rigged elections in 2013 should go home.” He further added, “How can we expect a fair and transparent by-election or local government under them.”

COMMENTS (18)

Ashraf | 8 years ago | Reply Imran Khan has no respect for the law.

Sajid Rabbani | 8 years ago | Reply @ Raisur Rahman I agree with you.

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Razi Mallick | 8 years ago | Reply Imran Khan's agitational politics is disappointing and has the risk to derail the existing democratic system which is still in its infancy and it will take time to mature and provide relief to the people. I am in full agreement with the general perception about the corruption of our ruling elites including the politicians. This corruption can only be eradicated or minimized if the democratic process is allowed to continue. We have to bear this transitional pain. There is no other way as I remember saying of Churchill " democracy is vary bad thing unless other systems are not tested". I will like to added comments of Kissinger that democracy forces the people to come on the dialogue table to resolve their conflicts. I think the Americans learnt this lesson after they lost lives of near about half million people when population was a little more than thirty million. Imran Khan should understand this fact and try to amend his behavior. But the problem is that struggle to gain anything, including change, needs three things namely patience, persistence and consistent approach and above all a mature behavior. But Imran Khan has non of them and that is his problem. This is to be puzzle to be solved by the well wishers of Imran Khan. I will they will play their role.

Kolsat | 8 years ago | Reply When a person who aspires to lead the nation breaks an injunction how he is going to ask the citizens to obey nation's laws? Imran should think twice before taking a rash action. It is for leaders to set an example by obeying law.

Usman (again) | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: Completrly agree. IK banned from Punjab is a clear cut hand played by rbe ECP to give advantage to Noon, as Noon doesn't need to campaign as they are in control of the state machinery.

Lakhkar Khan | 8 years ago | Reply This shameless individual appears above the law. He supports Taliban terrorists and has been trying to over throw the democratically elected government in a stunt (dharna). And yet, he is still out implementing his ridiculous ideas.

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman Thank for projecting the true voice of the f natsaccist and sanctimonious voice of the PTI mindset

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply If PTI loses NA 122 and NA 154, then whole fault rests with Imran Khan, but he is not allowed to compaign. If he does not compaign, PTI will lose. On the other hand Nawaz and Shahbaz does not need to compaign as same is being done through police, district management and other provincial departments under shahbaz shareef. This is called systematic rigging. It would have made sense to bar Pervaiz Khattak and IK from comaigning in KPK. This is the system we have in our country, and if this does not change then either we have the shareefs ruling us for next 1000 years unless some general bandooq ali khan kick them out again.

Aik_Paki | 8 years ago | Reply From the editorial and the news coverage, it seems Tribune express is funded or influenced by NS and his clan. A shameful situation for Pakitan media and specifically for some newspaper like Tribune and .

Haider Rehman | 8 years ago | Reply He is the leader of his PARTY. Why is ECP stopping him?

Raisur Rahman | 8 years ago | Reply As a non pakistani, i firmly belive , imran is solely and only hope for Pakistan . no other country has money launderer or mafia as prime Minister or ex President . i feel sorry to read comment of Pakistanis, which shows that there slave dynasty exist among common masses .

ok | 8 years ago | Reply the ecp thinks its above the law.

MASOOM | 8 years ago | Reply Really, Shaken ,emotionally and mentally unstable ,not understanding what to do !

Anil Bhutta | 8 years ago | Reply Loosing or wining is defending on the player. Every one must play with ball not with the game. The integrity of the game must be respected by all no exception. The rule and law must be intact.

Zalim Khan | 8 years ago | Reply This is pre poll rigging by PTI. Where is ECP? Sensing defeat after the Gallup and Pulse Poll in both NA122 and NA154, liar Khan jumps in two campaign for qabza mafia Aleem Khan and bank defaulter Jehangir Tareen:)

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply Let him campaign all he wants . But if he again attacks state property and starts threatening policemen , don't hesitate to throw the miscreant in jail .

Bushra | 8 years ago | Reply He thinks hes above the law.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Oh goodie!!! A lip smacking moment for Ayaz Sadiq and PML-N for every time crap-for-brains Niazi has led an election campaign for anyone, that candidate has ended up meeting his Waterloo. This is a good omen for PML-N in NA-122. Just wait for Maryam Nawaz Sharif to descend into NA-122 with her posse.

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