PTI won’t contest 2018 polls with current ECP, says Imran
Says PTI may take to the streets again if needed
PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressing a press conference. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not contest the 2018 general elections under the existing setup of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). This statement was given by PTI chairman Imran Khan who described the ECP as ‘controversial’, while addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence on Wednesday.
Resurrecting his party’s claims of rigging in the 2013 general elections he said that “if someone thinks we will go for elections under the supervision of the existing ECP, they are mistaken.” The party had backed off from its allegations of rigging particularly after the Judicial Commission report but has once again started raising the matter as Khan warned that the party might take to the streets again, if needed.
Imran slams ECP for 'condoning' polling staff
“Don’t cry if it happens again,” said Khan in reply to the prime minister, who had complained that PTI’s 126-day sit-in had delayed the visit of the Chinese President and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Justifying his stance, Khan said that we are demanding our constitutional right that there should be free and fair elections in the country.
Khan questioned the ECP for not taking action against the polling staff responsible for rigging, saying that those officials would have told the courts that they acted on the directions of the ECP.
The PTI chairman said that the report of returning officers from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s constituency NA-110 has also uncovered rigging. “Now the entire nation knows why we demanded these investigations,” he added.
ECP denies PTI access to its voter database
Talking about the upcoming by-elections in NA-267 where PTI’s Yar Muhammad Rind would be contesting, Khan demanded that the by-election be held under the supervision of the army, as his party did not trust the administration.
He said that polling staff from neighbouring districts should be appointed for the polls and judges should be given the role of returning officers.
Yar Muhammad Rind also expressed his reservations on the occasion and said that there was massive rigging in the constituency with voter turnout recorded at 101% in the earlier elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not contest the 2018 general elections under the existing setup of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). This statement was given by PTI chairman Imran Khan who described the ECP as ‘controversial’, while addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence on Wednesday.
Resurrecting his party’s claims of rigging in the 2013 general elections he said that “if someone thinks we will go for elections under the supervision of the existing ECP, they are mistaken.” The party had backed off from its allegations of rigging particularly after the Judicial Commission report but has once again started raising the matter as Khan warned that the party might take to the streets again, if needed.
Imran slams ECP for 'condoning' polling staff
“Don’t cry if it happens again,” said Khan in reply to the prime minister, who had complained that PTI’s 126-day sit-in had delayed the visit of the Chinese President and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Justifying his stance, Khan said that we are demanding our constitutional right that there should be free and fair elections in the country.
Khan questioned the ECP for not taking action against the polling staff responsible for rigging, saying that those officials would have told the courts that they acted on the directions of the ECP.
The PTI chairman said that the report of returning officers from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s constituency NA-110 has also uncovered rigging. “Now the entire nation knows why we demanded these investigations,” he added.
ECP denies PTI access to its voter database
Talking about the upcoming by-elections in NA-267 where PTI’s Yar Muhammad Rind would be contesting, Khan demanded that the by-election be held under the supervision of the army, as his party did not trust the administration.
He said that polling staff from neighbouring districts should be appointed for the polls and judges should be given the role of returning officers.
Yar Muhammad Rind also expressed his reservations on the occasion and said that there was massive rigging in the constituency with voter turnout recorded at 101% in the earlier elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.