PML-N leaders censure ECP over ‘dual standards’
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The nomination papers for senate elections of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda were accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan's returning officer in Karachi on Thursday afternoon. However, a tense situation prevailed for a while around the ECP office when Vawda arrived at the office for the scrutiny of his papers.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders Nehal Hashmi, Qadir Khan Mandokhel, Noor Hayat and party supporters who were present at the ECP Karachi office chanted slogans when they were refused entry as Vawda arrived with his supporters to appear before the scrutiny body.
The ECP office gates were closed and additional police was summoned to maintain order. The police stopped PML-N supporters from entering the office. Following which, they became infuriated and demanded to be allowed in to place their objections before the returning officer.
The petitioners and their lawyers said that they had objections to Vawda's papers claiming that he was still in possession of dual citizenship at the time that he said that he had renounced it. They said they would approach the Sindh High Court against the approval of Vawda's papers.
Speaking to the media outside the ECP office Nehal Hashmi, Qadir Khan Mandokhel and Noor Hayat alleged the ECP officials had adopted a dictatorial attitude by not hearing their objections.
Hashmi said Vawda had stated in his nomination papers that he had renounced US citizenship in 2018 but he did not reveal the date. He said different standards were prevailing in the country for the government's supporters and those who opposed it.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2021.