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ISLAMABAD: The ruling Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) has demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to be disbanded “for failing to hold the recently-held Senate elections in a transparent manner”.
“It is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure transparent polls are held, however, they failed,” said Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, flanked by information minister Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry.
The federal minister said it was a longstanding demand of Prime Minister Imran Khan that the power of money should not be used to influence elections. “In this regard, the premier wanted the Senate elections to be held via an open ballot,” he added.
He also called on the election commission to be disbanded, alleging that it had failed to meet up to the standards required of it. “Everybody is criticising the ECP. Is there anyone who’s saying the election was conducted properly?” the minister asked.
“Despite being the most popular political party, Tehreek-i-Insaaf did not have confidence in the ECP,” he said, adding, “The ECP should collectively resign and a new commission should be made which enjoys the trust of all parties.”
Tensions between the PTI-led government and the ECP after the PTI lost the important Senate election when former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
Condemning the attack on Dr Shahbaz Gill, the education minister said that when matters go according to the wishes of the PML-N, then everything is fine. “However, when it goes against them, then the party decides to attack,” said the minister.
“The PML-N was responsible for the attack on the Supreme Court in the past,” he said, adding, “When the prime minister was seeking a vote of confidence, their leaders arrived outside the parliament to instigate a fight.”
