Imran 'attacking' ECP fearing adverse verdict in foreign funding case: Maryam

No need to get too excited about losing five of your own 20 seats, PML-N stalwart advises PTI chairman

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said on Monday that former prime minister Imran Khan's "attack" on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not because of any rigging as it did not happen but over fears of the adverse verdict in a foreign funding case.

She was apparently responding to Imran Khan's address earlier today in which the former premier had said that free and fair elections cannot take place under the current ECP.

"There is only one way [to rid the country of political instability]… free and fair election. When they were removing me, I had announced general elections but the courts overturned my decision. I still believe it was the right call," he said while addressing PTI supporters following his party’s landslide victory in Sunday’s by-elections.

Calling Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja "dishonest", Imran in today’s victory speech asked him to resign as, according to him, free and fair elections cannot take place in the country under his supervision.

"Under this ECP, the free and fair election cannot take place. The country's biggest party does not trust it. I ask the CEC to resign. We have no confidence in you. You're a biased person and connected with a party," he alleged.

Read more: Rejuvenated Imran demands snap polls after emphatic Punjab win

"No need to get too excited about losing five of your own 20 seats," Maryam responded to the former premier on her official Twitter handle.

"Your attack on the ECP is not because of any rigging as it did not happen but over fears of the adverse verdict in the foreign funding case," she said.

Maryam said that Imran Khan knows that there is "irrefutable evidence" against him, saying that it must be brought to light. She also urged the ECP to announce the verdict soon.

The Imran-led party clinched 15 provincial assembly seats out of the 20 up for grabs, dealing a stunning blow to the 13-party alliance led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on its home turf.

According to unofficial and preliminary results, the ruling PML-N could only bag four seats.

Also read: PML-N congratulates PTI on ‘landslide victory’ in Punjab by-polls

The PTI’s victory has not only dealt a blow to PML-N’s narrative of performance in Punjab but has also turned the tables on the politics of electables.

The chief minister’s elections, scheduled to be held on the apex court’s orders, will now see CM Hamza Shehbaz probably losing his office and Speaker Pervaiz Elahi’s ascension to power as CM Punjab.

Currently, the PML-N’s combined strength is 175 and with three more votes PML-N's total tally will rise to 178, while the PTI on its own will have a strength of 178, excluding the vote of estranged PTI MPA also the deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

With 10 more votes of the PML-Q, Elahi’s victory is certain.

The PML-N was quick to express its willingness to play by Queensberry rules and accept the results with grace.

The party leaders put the blame on difficult financial decisions taken by the government at the Centre that brought on back-breaking inflation in the country.

A leader talking to The Express Tribune said two factors played an important role in PML-N’s defeats, explaining that besides the tough financial decisions, the second reason was the rejection of turncoats.

He said that the party has decided not to put blame on turncoats as it would further damage their reputation.