SC will salvage democracy: PTI chief

Gohar Ali Khan says only former ruling party serious about holding polls on time

ISLAMABAD:

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has expressed confidence in the judiciary, stating that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will prevent the derailment of democracy in the country. He also claimed that the PTI is the only party genuinely committed to safeguarding democracy from derailing.

"We absolutely do not want any delay in the elections," said Gohar on Saturday while interacting with reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he earlier visited PTI founder Imran Khan.

The PTI chief was referring to the Supreme Court’s December 15 order, noting that a PTI-affiliated lawyer had attempted to disrupt democracy by challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notifications regarding the appointment of poll supervisors.

“Our request was for district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs), and assistant returning officers (AROs) to be selected from the judiciary [and not from bureaucracy]. We wanted the Supreme Court to oversee the electoral process as free and fair elections are essential for the country,” he added.

"We sit in the Supreme Court every day to safeguard democracy from derailment. InshaAllah, the Supreme Court will prevent democracy from derailing," he emphasized.

Read ECP to take up PTI poll case tomorrow

He said it is the PTI which dissolved its own governments in two provinces and resigned from the National Assembly so that free and fair elections might be held. Our plea is that you ensure that the polls supervisors conduct fair and free elections, he added.

He emphasized that it is the people's right to choose their representatives and clarified, "We have never claimed to be deprived of justice. The setbacks in our cases occurred because they were not being heard. The PTI will never boycott elections. We are striving to contest elections with our electoral symbol."

Regarding the ECP's decision to appoint officers from civil bureaucracy as DROs, ROs, and AROs, he mentioned dissatisfaction, stating that the PTI is not content with this choice.

Gohar Ali Khan, who was appointed as the former ruling party’s chief earlier this month, seemingly as a temporary arrangement due to Imran Khan's disqualification, expressed that the PTI’s election preparations are complete.

He highlighted that the PTI still faces obstacles in holding conventions or displaying its flags. He said the former PTI chairman's family is being implicated and put in jails. “Despite facing difficulties such as court cases and arrests, if a level playing field is ensured, the PTI will win polls with a two-thirds majority,” he said.