Conceding ground: ECP can conduct re-polls wherever it wants, says LG minister

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami leader and Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is free to conduct re-polls wherever it deems necessary. Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Khan said the ECP is an independent institution and it should ensure re-polls are held transparently and peacefully.

“We had called for the deployment of security forces at polling stations and the judiciary’s supervision of elections. Both the demands were turned down,” he said, urging the ECP to give a timeframe to election tribunals to decide upon filed applications. Answering a question about Qaumi Watan Party’s possible return to the coalition government, Khan said the ball was in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s court. “JI will not object to PTI’s decision.”

He also shared Rs43 billion has been allocated for development projects and Rs96 billion for salaries of the district governments. “Rs120 billion has been allocated for five flyovers that will be constructed on ring roads in five years.”

“Rs900million have been allocated for bus terminals in Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda and Nowshera,” Khan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.