– Imran calls for peaceful protest outside ECP office today
-Interior Minister warns of strict action for breach of Red Zone
By Makhdoom
Shehryar Babar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will be approached by his political party against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
While talking to a private news channel Wednesday, Imran Khan said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) leveled foolish allegations against PTI. He said that the commission compiled two reports, one of them declaring PTI a foreign-funded party was included at the behest of ‘someone’.
He censured ECP saying the election commission was involved in the conspiracy with the ‘imported government’ against PTI as the institution was deliberately delaying the funding reports of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He said that it was not illegal to collect funds from overseas Pakistanis by any law. The law barring the collection of funds was introduced in 2017, whereas, different companies disbursed funds to the political party in 2012.
Khan also responded to the controversy related to his affidavit and said, “Affidavit was signed for declaring the ownership of the assets and another for confirming the party accounts.
Shaukat Khanum has a budget of Rs18 billion. Am I an accountant to see the whole budget? I was given a briefing about the accounts which I will definitely confirm.”
He censured ECP saying the election commission was involved in the conspiracy with the ‘imported government’ against PTI as the institution was deliberately delaying the funding reports of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Khan said that PPP and PML-N were receiving funds from wealthy persons and both political parties had done wrongdoings in the name of the 18th amendment. He announced that PTI will take part in the elections with full strength and polls should be conducted on all seats. “I want to raise a question of whether the organisation of by-elections will bring any improvement to the country.”
Khan criticised that those persons who should face the penalties were imposed as the rulers of the country. He warned of increasing risks to national security due to the current rulers.
He announced, “We will approach Supreme Judicial Council against the CEC. Many people had criticised the selection of the election commission as he is the PML-N loyalist.” Khan said that two provincial assemblies had passed resolutions against the current CEC.
Imran Khan urged the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the general elections and said that EVMs will eliminate all kinds of vote rigging. “We are going to organise a peaceful protest against the Chief Election Commissioner tomorrow.”
He reiterated his call for the organisation of free and fair elections to end the crisis in the country. “We are ready for talks if the date of fresh elections is announced. Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are reluctant to announce the fresh elections due to fears of facing defeat.”
Regarding the reports of his inclusion in the Exit Control List (ECL), the PTI chief said that he has not planned to go abroad and the government was free to add his name to the ECL.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Wednesday warned PTI of strict actions against those who try to enter the Red Zone as the party announced to stage a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) today.
The interior minister issued the warning while addressing a press conference flanked by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in the federal capital.
Two days ago, PTI Chairperson Imran Khan announced holding a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.
“PTI wants to spread chaos in the name of the protest,” the interior minister said, revealing that the coalition government has “received reports” and has found statements of Khan and Fawad Chaudhry regarding their plans of creating an anarchic situation outside the election commission.
He said that they [PTI] can attack the election commission; however, they should remember that the Islamabad High Court has imposed restrictions on staging protests in the Red Zone.
“Protests are strictly prohibited in the Red Zone and if someone tries to enter the area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences of their actions later,” he said, highlighting that there are some selected venues where the PTI can stage a “peaceful protest as it was everybody’s right in the democratic era.”
The interior minister reiterated that neither will anybody be allowed to protest outside the ECP nor will the government let anybody take the law into their hands.
According to the court orders, protests can be held in H9 and F9 parks, therefore, complete security will be provided to the protesters at the designated venues.
Commenting on the ECP’s verdict in PTI’s foreign funding case, Sanaullah said: “Following the announcement of the verdict, the party has been declared a foreign-aided party.
Khan took foreign funding and spread political anarchy in Pakistan,” he said, adding that the PTI chairman is spreading hatred in Pakistani politics.
Regarding the cabinet meeting scheduled later this week, the interior minister said that some important decisions will be taken regarding the “foreign agent”.
“The ECP, in its verdict, has highlighted various crimes committed by the PTI and has also mentioned the anti-state and money laundering factors,” he maintained, adding the coalition government is reviewing the verdict to identify the involvement of other relevant sectors.
The Interior Minister said that decision regarding adding names to the exit control list (ECL) or arrests will be made accordingly.
Responding to Sanna’s presser, PTI’s Fawad Choudhry said that a reference has been filed against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and that the party will appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision, which he declared in contravention to the law and the Constitution.
A day earlier, the ECP in a unanimous verdict, ruled that the PTI received funds from “prohibited” sources. The PTI leader also announced a protest outside the ECP office.
He alleged that parties part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance had “met the chief election commissioner” before the verdict was announced.
