ECP braces for looming PTI protests

In view of the looming protests, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday wrote to the home secretary as well as provincial governments to ensure the security of its offices across the country.

The misgivings were stirred as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is poised to hold protests outside the watchdog’s offices today against the chief election commissioner (CEC) for his alleged biased behaviour.

A meeting in this regard was held at the ECP Secretariat, which besides others was attended by the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younas and officials of the commission, to chalk out foolproof security arrangements to avert any flare-up outside ECP offices.

The inspector general assured that the routes leading up to the Red Zone will be blocked with containers to keep the rallies from storming the premises, whereas PTI lawmakers will be allowed to enter the area, sources said.

However, the sources shared that according to the police assessments the protests are least likely to turn provocative or turn violent.

Superintendents Police (SPs) will be deployed at Margala Road, Serena Chowk and Express Chowk along with 1,500 cops and 300 Rangers personnel, whereas, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials will perform security duties on the check posts around the Red Zone.

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The announcement about holding protests outside the ECP offices was made by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Twitter.

In his tweet, the former information minister accused the CEC of being “partisan and dishonest”, adding the ECP was not de-notifying membership of the party’s dissident legislators.

“Therefore, PTI will hold protests throughout the country in front of the ECP offices on April 26 against the behaviour of the CEC. Directions are being issued to all district organisations of the PTI in this regard,” he said in his tweet.

The tensions turned even bitter when on April 23, PTI Chairman Imran Khan also accused the CEC of being biased and demanded his resignation.

Earlier, Mr Khan had announced that the PTI would file a reference against Mr Raja as he had failed to carry out the delimitation of constituencies on time.

It is pertinent to note that the Election Commission of Pakistan had earlier this month requested the interior ministry for ‘foolproof security arrangements for Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

In a letter written to the interior ministry on April 8, the ECP said: “In the light of the present polarized situation, foolproof security arrangements for the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan at the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad, his residential apartment in Sector G-5, Islamabad and during his travel outside Islamabad may be made on an immediate basis.”