‘Neutrals’ had vouched for CEC Raja: Imran

PTI chief says ‘neutrals’ had vouched for him as right man for the job

KARACHI:

PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan has said the “neutrals” – apparently a reference to the security establishment – had guaranteed that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja was the right man for the job.

In an interview with BBC Urdu published on Wednesday, the ex-premier regretted having made this decision, adding that the PTI would approach the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and CEC.

He maintained that Raja’s name came up during the deadlock for the post of the CEC during his tenure.

He added that he had asked the neutrals about him and they guaranteed it.

“We made a major mistake by accepting this man. The neutrals did not say anything but Sikandar Sultan Raja did not let EVMs [electronic voting machines] come on top of his agenda,” Imran lamented.

The former prime minister said that there would be a protest against the CEC in Islamabad on Thursday (today). He added that PTI activists would not enter the Red Zone. However, only the party’s parliamentarians and lawyers would participate in it. “But there will be such a protest that people will know,” he added.

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The ties between the PTI and CEC have soured in recent times.

The PTI chief had recently said that the top electoral authority chose to oppose EVMs, which had been designed to end irregularities and manipulation in the election.

According to the former PM, the election commissioner tried his best to sabotage the EVMs while the system could have ended all future disputes regarding the poll results.

While addressing a crowd in Sheikhupura, the PTI chief had stated that the commission was biased in favour of PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz, before the recount process for the election of the Punjab chief minister was due to take place.

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Earlier, while addressing participants of the PTI’s farmers’ convention in Islamabad, he had claimed that the CEC was taking orders from Hamza, and his cousin and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz. “Both of the leaders want to rig elections with the help of the election commission,” he had added.

The ECP, however, had dismissed Imran’s allegations against its chief as “baseless”.

In a statement, the commission said “by issuing fatwas of treason, an institution cannot be declared a traitor” – a dig at the PTI’s rhetoric against the opposing parties and those who deserted his party.

 

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