Fazl slams ‘judicial martial law’

JUI-F chief asks when ECP will become independent

ISLAMABAD:

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday maintained that an environment of “judicial martial law” had been created in the country as he raised security concerns ahead of the next general elections.

“When will the Election Commission of Pakistan [ECP] become independent if the polls schedule is issued on the court’s orders?” the JUI-F chief raised the question while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

Fazl pointed out that three judges of the Supreme Court had summoned Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and directed him to file a plea for the polls.

He added that the top court later opened at the time of Isha prayers and ordered the CEC to issue the election schedule, followed by the ECP implementing the directives.

The JUI-F chief warned that he would hold Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and the CEC responsible even if one of his party activists was martyred in a terrorist attack while campaigning for the upcoming elections.

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Fazl said his party had been notified by the district administration that the situation was dangerous and the JUI-F could not campaign for the elections.

“If we contest the elections, at least the environment should be made conducive,” he continued. The JUI-F chief noted that if the security situation and weather were not favourable, it would affect the polls.

“What will happen when the turnout will be affected because of the weather?” he raised the question Fazl said his party was accused of running away from the elections when it expressed its reservations over these factors.

The JUI-F chief said the apex court should have heard the matter of election security first. “At least we are not satisfied [over the security situation],” he added