-Ask CEC to leave seat if interested in politics and fight election
-Question capability of ECP for holding free and fare elections
-Term ECP headquarters for opposition parties
-Information Minister says CEC has become mouthpiece of opposition
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that it seems the Election Commission of Pakistan has “become the headquarters for Opposition parties and the chief election commissioner is acting as their mouthpiece.”
Speaking during a press conference in the federal capital alongside Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and Adviser to the Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Fawad said that no one is satisfied with the ECP because “it comes up with strange logic.”
Fawad said that the PTI-led government had promised to make the ECP free, fair, and transparent, and to that end, a commission for reforms, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, was also formed. However, the ECP remains surrounded by controversies due to its “strange logic.”
The minister said that the PTI government had asked the Opposition to come forward and participate in discussions related to electoral reforms. “The government wanted to incorporate technology in the electoral process to ensure transparency, however, it seems like the ECP has become the headquarters for Opposition parties.”
The minister said that all institutions of the country, including the ECP, must abide by the law.Fawad said that the election process was thoroughly inspected and it turned out that the chief election commissioner has been acting as the “mouthpiece of the Opposition.”
“The chief election commissioner is in close contact with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif,” said Fawad, adding that the party leaders are trying to get legal amendments passed so that the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) could be declared controversial.
He said that the chief election commissioner should “either take a look at his behaviour or join politics.”
“You better not become a tool used by small political parties,” Fawad told the chief election commissioner.Fawad added that whenever the Opposition loses in elections, it starts crying foul about rigging. “Our Opposition comprises intellectually-stunted parties. The only skill they have is to seek extensions for the hearing of their court cases.”
Speaking about the incorporation of technology into the electoral process, Fawad said that even the Supreme Court of Pakistan endorsed it to ensure transparency.
On the other hand, Senator Babar Awan said that the bill on electoral reforms was passed in the National Assembly after eight months but the Opposition did not present a single suggestion throughout this period.
