Federal institution: PTI will not oppose Election Commission members, says Haq

“The PTI does not intend to go on a solo flight,” says PTI central information secretary Naeem ul Haq

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central information secretary Naeem ul Haq has said that his party will not oppose Election Commission of Pakistan members notified by the government following talks with the opposition.

Haq also denied that there were any differences between the PTI and the PPP, saying that all opposition parties were united in their stance to fight government’s corruption. “The PTI does not intend to go on a solo flight,” he said.

He was speaking to the media at Imran Khan Talent Hunt programme organised by the PTI’s Sports and Culture Wing in Faisal Town.

On differences between the PTI and the PPP over the notification of ECP members, Haq said his party had decided that it would not oppose those notified by the government. He said the appointments had been made in accordance with the constitutional requirements. However, he said there remained doubts over the lack of consideration of PTI’s nominee for the Punjab, Tariq Khosa. Haq said he would inquire into the matter with Shah Mahmood Qureshi once he returned to the country.

Haq reiterated his party’s stance that the government was not serious in investigating the Panama Papers controversy. He said federal ministers had tried to remove the name of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the terms of reference (ToRs) for the investigations.

On the results of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, Haq said that the PTI, the PPP and the Muslim Conference had managed to win 58 per cent of the votes. He said the PML-N had won more seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly but its share of cast votes was less than the opposition parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2016.