PTI reiterates early election demand

Top leaders claim PML-N infighting adding to uncertainty

ISLAMABAD: It is essential to obtain a fresh mandate and holding early elections is the only way to remove uncertainties, a statement issued after a meeting of top leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reiterated on Monday.

As days go by, it said, Pakistan was plunging deeper into economic, political and administrative chaos.

The government no longer existed, it maintained.

According to the statement, infighting within PML-N to grab power following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif was adding to this uncertain situation.

“Because of this, cabinet members are forced to take directions from the deposed PM, Nawaz Sharif, instead of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi,” the statement said. The time was ripe for launching a mass contact campaign, the PTI said.



PTI leaders also expressed concern over Nawaz Sharif’s recent remarks against the apex court and judges. “Nawaz Sharif wants to hold the entire system hostage to protect his ill-gotten money,” the statement concluded.

In the meantime, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) pressed the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of disbursement of development funds worth Rs200 billion by the government among selected lawmakers.

Terming the government action pre-poll rigging, senior PTI leadership concluded that PML-N was using the national exchequer to dole out ‘political bribes’ among selected parliamentarians ahead of the next general elections for political gains.

Senior leaders of PTI met here at Bani Gala under PTI chief Imran Khan to discuss a host of issues, including finalisation of candidates for election 2018, changes in the Khatam-e-Nabuwat clause of the Election Act, 2017, delimitation of constituencies and also Clause 203 of the Elections Act that paved way for former PM Nawaz Sharif to head his party.

PTI challenged the Elections Act, 2017, in the Supreme Court but the apex court rejected its application, directing it to approach an appropriate forum.

“The SC returned our petition with a direction to approach proper forum. Now, the party’s legal wing has been given the task of deciding whether to approach the ECP or the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in this regard,” Iftikhar Durrani, the head of PTI’s media department, said.



Khatam-e-Nabuwat

Although the PTI did not make the issue of the changes in the Khatam-e-Nabuwat clause part of its statement, a senior leader said that the issue was also discussed.

“PTI is against the use of force against protesters,” he said, adding that several PTI leaders believed that the government had failed to tackle protesters appropriately.

He said the PTI chief was expected to hold a press conference on this particular issue in a couple of days, especially the report compiled by Senator Raja Zafarul Haq.

Senator Zafarul Haq, he said, had identified individuals responsible for changes in the declaration on the finality of the Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

He said the government was falsely claiming that the report was not yet finalised.

According to him, the report had not only been finalised but it had been submitted to the Prime Minister who was not taking any action against those responsible for the changes.