PTI demands CEC’s resignation

A large number of supporters and lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested in Islamabad against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Led by senior PTI leaders and allies, including Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Pervez Khattak, Azam Swati and Shiekh Rashid, the protesters were also joined by a sizeable number of lawyers from the PTI. The party also handed over a letter of protest to a representative of the ECP.

The protesters overcame barricades to reach the ECP offices. The female supporters of the PTI tried to forcibly remove the barricades, which led to altercation between the protesting women and the security personnel. The women protesters were stopped at the ECP gate.

The security personnel also prevented PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry from going to the Election Commission. However, later, the PTI lawmakers submitted a memorandum against CEC Raja, in which they accused him of “playing an unconstitutional, undemocratic and biased role”.

The memorandum said that the ECP decision in the prohibited funding case on August 2 was a complete deviation from the Constitution and the law, an act of revenge against the PTI and an attempt to ignore the facts.

“The ECP is no longer functioning as a state body, but as a subsidiary of the PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement-led] coalition”, former planning minister Asad Umar told reporters. He urged the CEC to resign because “two provincial assemblies have passed resolutions against the ECP”.

Speaking on this occasion, Fawad Chaudhry said that the people in the government must pack their bags and prepared to quit. He added that the protesters were peaceful. PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati said that Imran Khan fought thieves and robbers. Faisal Javed said that the ECP always gave anti-PTI decisions.