PTI seeks ECP action against ‘hostile’ bureaucracy

The Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to direct the government and the authorities concerned to restrain the appointment of ‘hostile’ bureaucracy and police officials in Punjab.

The PTI, through its counsel Advocate Faisal Fareed, submitted an application to the ECP to raise its concerns with regard to the appointment of officers who have been found personally involved in targeting the party and its workers at the behest of its political opponents, including the incumbent federal government and the caretaker setup.

PTI also provided a list of officials, including PAS/PMS officers Nabeel Awan, Capt (retd) Usman, Umer Sher Chattha, Sumair Syed, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Ajmal Bhatti, Ahmad Raza Sarwar, Amir Karim Khan, Dr Rashid Mansoor, Amir Khattak and Syed Ali Murtaza; and police officers Bilal Siddiq Kamyana, Capt (retd) Usman Anwar, Capt (retd) Suhail Chaudhary, Rao Sardar Ali Khan, Raza Safdar Kazmi, Dr Abid khan, Hafiz Atta Ur Rehman, Babar Sarfraz Alpa, Sohail Zafar Chattha, Rana Ayyaz Saleem and Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi.

It pointed out that all these officials were loyal to the political opponents of the party, and it was not mere apprehension but “these officers are hell-bent to influence the voters and sympathisers of the applicant party by causing harassment, fear even through intimidation”.

The application also highlighted that the above-named officers were found involved in “brutal and inhuman actions against the PTI workers on May 25, 2022”.

It requested that the commission to issue necessary directions to ensure the conduct and organise elections in the province strictly in accordance with the law and the Constitution of Pakistan, and for the appointment of impartial and law-abiding bureaucrats and police officials.

The former ruling party pointed out that under Article 218 of the Constitution, it is a mandatory duty of the commission to organise and conduct the elections and to make such arrangements as necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and the corrupt practices are guarded against.

It stated that under the Article 220 of the Constitution, it is the mandatory duty of all executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces to assist the commissioner and the commission in the discharge of their functions.