PTI ‘ignored’ on caretaker setup

LAHORE
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday voiced concern over the nomination process for the appointment of caretaker premier, saying despite being the “largest political party” they were not consulted on the matter by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and called for holding “free and fair elections” in the country.
The PTI spokesperson hoped that Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar in his role as the interim premier would adhere to the Constitution and ensure polls within the designated timeframe of three months.
He highlighted that the decision to nominate Kakar was made by “puppet Prime Minister Shehbaz” and “fake Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz”.
“Senator Kakar has been nominated as the caretaker minister. A heavy responsibility is imposed on him. It is hoped that Kakar will ensure holding of free and fair elections within the constitutional period of three months after assuming his post,” he said.
“[We hope] He will not allow any further damage to the constitutional and democratic rights of the people,” he added.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi while expressing his views during Express News programme Centre Stage said that they had role in the appointment of the caretaker prime minister.
He said they were not consulted on the matter.
The spokesperson underlined that ensuring free, impartial and transparent polls was mandatory for the “implementation of the spirit of Constitution and survival and continuity of democracy”.
One of the primary duties of the caretaker government is to provide opportunities to all political parties to carry out election campaigns in a fair environment, he maintained.
At present, he pointed out, Pakistan's “largest political party”, PTI, is “being oppressed by the state”, and added that thousands of PTI workers are imprisoned in jails and subjected to worst revenge.
The spokesperson noted that fundamental rights of the citizens were “practically suspended” and their provision was “limited to workers affiliated with certain political groups”.
“There are restrictions on the assembly, politics and freedom of expression. The largest political party in the country and its chairman and former premier Imran Khan are in chains and facing worst censorship,” he said.
“The caretaker prime minister will have to take immediate notice of these matters. The removal of these irregularities must be planned on priority basis for effective holding of elections as Pakistan cannot afford any new adventurism at this time.”
Responding to a question, the spokesperson maintained that PTI was the “largest political party inside and outside the parliament”.
He lamented that PM Shehbaz had not consulted with the PTI on the process of caretaker prime minister’s nomination.UPDATE (Front Page)