ISLAMABAD: Two federal ministers belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday strongly criticized President Arif Alvi for his moves to write to the Election Commission of Pakistan twice, asking the electoral body to have consultative meeting for finalizing dates of elections in Punjab and KP following the dissolution of provincial assemblies in both of the provinces.
However, responding to President’s letters, the electoral body excused itself from attending the meeting as the matter was subjudice and was being heard by different courts.
Firing fresh salvos against the President, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah took to Twitter saying Mr Alvi should stay from the ongoing political situation. He said the president should not turn its office into a “blackmailing point”. He said Mr Alvi could not force the ECP to give a date for elections as it is a constitutional institution.
صدر علوی ”آ بیل مجھے مار“ والے کام نہ کریں، آئین کی حد میں رہیں، صدر کے دفتر کو بلیک میلنگ کا اڈہ نہ بنائیں؛ الیکشن کی تاریخ دینے سے صدر کا کوئی لینا دینا نہیں، عارف علوی خوامخواہ ٹانگ نہ اڑائیں، صدر الیکشن کمشن کو غیرقانونی اور غیر آئینی احکامات پر مجبور نہیں کر سکتا۔
— Rana Sana Ullah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) February 20, 2023
He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan damaged national interests and foreign relations, but the president was using his office for hatching conspiracies.
In the meanwhile, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb issued tickers-based statement to media, saying no one would be allowed to treat the ECP as a “tiger forces” of Imran Khan. She said the president was unconstitutionally pressurising the electoral body to get a date for elections.
She warned that Mr Alvi will have to face Article 6 for violating the Constitution, saying the president should not become a puppet at the hands of Mr Khan.
