ECP reconstitution: Nawaz rebuffs demand as ‘conspiracy’
Nawaz says that the Sindh government has failed to stem the tide of violence in the commercial capital of the country.
“The forces which have realised that their position is weak or is going to become weaker in the elections are making such demands to delay the polls,” says PML-N chief. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
SUKKUR/NAUSHERO FEROZE:
As the chorus of demands for the reconstitution of the election commission rise to a crescendo, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rebuffed on Friday the demand as part of a ‘conspiracy’ to delay the next parliamentary election.
“The forces which have realised that their position is weak or is going to become weaker in the elections are making such demands to delay the polls,” PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif told journalists at Sukkur airport.
Though Nawaz did not name anyone, influential scholar Dr Tahirul Qadri and cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan have been leading the calls for the reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Of late, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid also joined the chorus.
“The ECP wants to hold fair and transparent elections. And such demands smell of a conspiracy to sabotage the elections,” said Nawaz, adding that the conspirators would soon be exposed. “If they do not get what they want, they will say they are boycotting the elections,” the PML-N chief said.
On interim set-up, Nawaz said several names were under consideration for the office of caretaker prime minister, “let us see whose name is finalised”.
Later the PML-N chief addressed a public meeting in Kandiaro Town, which was hosted by former Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Zafar Ali Shah. Nawaz used the occasion to hit out at the rival PPP for its “poor performance”.
Comparing the performance of Punjab government to the PPP-led government in Sindh, he claimed that Punjab was free of any form of corruption. “In Punjab, there is no corruption in the government. If anyone can prove just one corruption case, we will take the responsibillity,” he added.
About spiraling violence in Karachi, Nawaz said the Sindh government has failed to stem the tide of violence in the commercial capital of the country. “If the Supreme Court had not taken suo motu notice, the administration would have not budged.”
He also condemned the passage of the Sindh Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2013, in the provincial assembly, which gives legal cover to out-of-turn promotion of 156 police officers. He advised all opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly to challenge it in court.
Reiterating his opposition to the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act 2012, Nawaz said it discriminated against the rural population of Sindh. He added that the PML-N would never allow the division of Sindh, even though it wants the creation of two new provinces in Punjab.
The PML-N chief also faulted the ruling PPP for the fluid security situation in Balochistan and asked President Asif Zardari to explain why he had failed to deliver on any of his pledges to the Baloch people.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.
As the chorus of demands for the reconstitution of the election commission rise to a crescendo, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rebuffed on Friday the demand as part of a ‘conspiracy’ to delay the next parliamentary election.
“The forces which have realised that their position is weak or is going to become weaker in the elections are making such demands to delay the polls,” PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif told journalists at Sukkur airport.
Though Nawaz did not name anyone, influential scholar Dr Tahirul Qadri and cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan have been leading the calls for the reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Of late, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid also joined the chorus.
“The ECP wants to hold fair and transparent elections. And such demands smell of a conspiracy to sabotage the elections,” said Nawaz, adding that the conspirators would soon be exposed. “If they do not get what they want, they will say they are boycotting the elections,” the PML-N chief said.
On interim set-up, Nawaz said several names were under consideration for the office of caretaker prime minister, “let us see whose name is finalised”.
Later the PML-N chief addressed a public meeting in Kandiaro Town, which was hosted by former Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Zafar Ali Shah. Nawaz used the occasion to hit out at the rival PPP for its “poor performance”.
Comparing the performance of Punjab government to the PPP-led government in Sindh, he claimed that Punjab was free of any form of corruption. “In Punjab, there is no corruption in the government. If anyone can prove just one corruption case, we will take the responsibillity,” he added.
About spiraling violence in Karachi, Nawaz said the Sindh government has failed to stem the tide of violence in the commercial capital of the country. “If the Supreme Court had not taken suo motu notice, the administration would have not budged.”
He also condemned the passage of the Sindh Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2013, in the provincial assembly, which gives legal cover to out-of-turn promotion of 156 police officers. He advised all opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly to challenge it in court.
Reiterating his opposition to the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act 2012, Nawaz said it discriminated against the rural population of Sindh. He added that the PML-N would never allow the division of Sindh, even though it wants the creation of two new provinces in Punjab.
The PML-N chief also faulted the ruling PPP for the fluid security situation in Balochistan and asked President Asif Zardari to explain why he had failed to deliver on any of his pledges to the Baloch people.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.