PML-N seeks ECP’s intervention against NAB

Raja Zafar writes letter to CEC complaining about arrest of party candidate

ISLAMABAD: Faced with serious challenges stemming from infighting, defections and tug of war between internal powerful lobbies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has now sought the intervention of the chief election commissioner against the National Accountability Bureau, accusing the anti-corruption watchdog of denying a level-playing field to political parties in the general elections.

“The PML-N is greatly perturbed to note that the statements made and actions taken on the part of NAB are blatantly in violation of the need to maintain a level-playing field for all political parties and therefore requires exercise by the ECP of –constitutional and statutory powers,” says a letter written to CEC Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza by PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq on Wednesday.

“It is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan under Article 218(3) of the Constitution to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

“Section 8(e) of the Elections Act, 2017 also empowers the commission to issue such instructions, exercise such powers and make such consequential orders as may in its opinion, be necessary for ensuring that an election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Rules,” the letter says.

The letter was written against the backdrop of the arrest of PML-N candidate for the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly’s seats -- NA-59 and PP-10 – respectively, in the general elections Raja Qamarul Islam by NAB.

Islam was contesting elections against former PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the two constituencies. On Sunday, the PML-N announced to award him the ticket but he was arrested by NAB authorities the next day.

Islam is allegedly involved in a mega corruption scandal related to the previous PML-N Punjab government’s Saaf Paani scheme launched by former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Reports suggest that the Punjab government had spent billions of rupees in the name of providing clean drinking water across the province but the pledge remained far from materialised.

Official sources privy to the matter say a probe against Islam has been underway for the last eight months and his arrest is a routine procedure that has nothing to do with him contesting the general polls.

Some PML-N stalwarts have alleged that Islam has been arrested at the behest of ‘hidden hands’ — an obvious reference to security establishment — to benefit Nisar since the ex-interior minister is known for having close links with the security establishment.

However, Nisar himself had condemned Islam’s arrest, saying it would affect the credibility and fairness of polls.

Haq’s letter specifically refers to the CEC. “One such case is that of Mr Qamarul Islam who was arrested on 25-06-2018 by the NAB, the day after he filed nomination papers for NA-59 and PP-10, in what is an apparent mala fide case of political victimisation.

“On the 11th of June, 2018 he was issued a certificate from NAB to the effect that he had no previous record of conviction or plea bargain.

“If at all the National Accountability Bureau had subsequently gathered any evidence against him under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 it should have issued him a notice to afford him an opportunity to rebut any charge, rather than order his immediate arrest since he is a candidate in the general elections,” the letter reads.

“NAB obtained his physical remand for 14 days and he has now to appear before the court on 09-7-2018. The above-mentioned action only adversely affects the candidature of Mr Qamarul lslam, nullifying the prospects of free and fair elections in his constituency, but will also damage the political standing of PML-N and is therefore to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“In the light or the above, the PML-N calls upon the ECP to exercise its constitutional and statutory powers and order the immediate release of Mr Qamarul Islam, to enable him to contest the forthcoming election without any hindrance.”