Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: In response to the PTI’s claim that its chairman, former prime minister Imran Khan, is a ‘prisoner of conscience’, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stated that Imran is incarcerated as he is accused in various cases including the one related to the misuse of a diplomatic cypher.
“Former PM & Chairman Imran Khan is currently incarcerated as a prisoner of conscience,” the PTI stated in its 24-point Charter of Demand. The charter was sent to the ECP on Nov 6 by PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan.
On Nov 22, the ECP issued terse responses to each of the 24 points of the charter, stating: “Former PM & Chairman Imran Khan is in jail in different cases including [the] cypher case.” The term ‘prisoner of conscience’ refers to a person who has been put in prison for holding political or religious views that are not tolerated in the state he/she lives in. The PTI also claimed that it is being victimised and persecuted as a political entity. The ECP, however, washed its hands of any responsibility in this regard, stating that “it has no role” in this alleged victimisation.
The ECP reiterated the “no-role” statement in response to the PTI’s claim that its leaders were coerced into giving interviews and statements against the party and parting ways with it. The polls oversight authority clarified that it could not refrain any political leader from joining or leaving any political party. To the party’s claim that it was not getting a level-playing field, the ECP said it had already issued directions to all caretaker governments for providing a level-playing field to all.
When the PTI pointed out that the general elections were not taking place within the constitutionally stipulated period of 90 days, the ECP said the issue had been deliberated by the Supreme Court. The ECP said it had set Feb 8, 2024 as the election date in consultation with the president on the order of the court.
When the PTI alleged that the caretaker governments were actively involved in pre-poll rigging against the PTI, the ECP simply reiterated that it had already issued directions to the caretaker governments and “the PTI should come up with specific and concrete proposals/evidence” in support of its claims.
The PTI had apprised the ECP that the former government released Rs51 billion for development schemes of its MNAs in the last one month of the previous government.
The ECP, however, noted that the schemes were approved and funds were released before the dissolution of the assemblies.
The PTI found transferring funds to interim governments illegal.
The ECP responded that it had already issued necessary directions and guidelines in this regard to the caretaker governments.
The PTI had urged the ECP to issue instructions to the relevant authorities to allow the party to conduct political meetings.
