Fawad apologises to ECP, CEC for acrimonious comments

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday apologised to the Election Commission of Pakistan for his statements against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the electoral watchdog.

The apology came during a hearing regarding the issue of allegations levelled by him and railways minister Azam Khan Swati against the CEC and the ECP.

Minister Azam Swati and his lawyer, Ali Zafar, did not attend the hearing owing to the ongoing Senate session, as per Zafar's assistant counsel. The ECP warned of indicting the railways minister if his reply was not submitted by the next hearing.

During the hearing, Fawad stated that he was a lawyer himself and had a lot of respect for the chief election commissioner. "I do not want to get involved in the paperwork,” he said.

He maintained that he did not hurl expletives at anyone and is simply a "mouthpiece" for the cabinet and the government.

"My request is that this case is finished. I am a lawyer myself. I am a mouthpiece of the government. I did not curse anyone. Accept my apology," he said.

“The statements are not mine, and it is requested that the notice be withdrawn,” the minister said, requesting the commission to accept his apology.

The ECP directed the information minister to submit his apology in writing, to which he agreed.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till December 3.

‘PTI respects ECP’

Speaking to media after the hearing, Fawad said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf respected the Election Commission.

He said it was the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz that was maligning the judiciary. “Attempts are being made to tarnish the image of institutions,” he claimed.

The federal minister said that PML-N has launched a campaign against the judiciary which was part of its agenda against national institutions. He said such conspiracies have always been hatched before the appearance of Nawaz Sharif or Maryam Nawaz in a court of law.

Read Fawad says electoral reforms national agenda, not only PTI's

He recalled that in the past, when Nawaz Sharif was summoned to the Supreme Court, the PML-N had attacked the apex court and yesterday it attacked the judiciary again by a fake affidavit.

'Former GB judge staying in London on Nawaz Sharif's expense'

Briefing the media, Fawad alleged that PML-N’s supremo and his family were bearing the expenses of the former GB judge who is currently residing in London. “Nawaz Sharif family also paid the fee for his affidavit and Nawaz Sharif's elder son Hussain Nawaz was dealing with this issue.”

The minister reiterated that electoral reforms were a national agenda and not the PTI’s agenda only.

He maintained that the bill for electoral reforms will be passed by the National Assembly and that the opposition should express its suggestions in the assembly.