PTI demands CEC’s resignation

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme would have a setback if election results were not issued according to Form 45. It also demanded immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja who, according to the party, failed to hold elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Speaking to the media outside the Adiala Jail on Tuesday after meeting the PTI founder Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar Khan said that following their meeting with Imran Khan, PTI has demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner who has forfeited his right to hold the office even for a day. He further demanded all inquiries into election discrepancies should be impartial and without any interference. “We want the election results to reflect the public mandate,” Gohar added. Gohar Ali Khan also demanded that the polling authorities issue election results in line with Form 45 after several political parties alleged discrepancies in the results based on Form 47. He pointed out that the former Rawalpindi commissioner’s revelations proved the PTI’s stance on rigging in the elections, saying that “non-transparent” election results could also hamper the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme with Pakistan. The Election Commission has failed to fulfil its responsibility, he regretted and demanded an investigation into Liaquat Ali Chattha’s allegations and the conduct of the Feb 8 elections. “CEC Raja should resign so that the inquiry into Feb 8 irregularities can be called non-controversial”, he asked.

Stressing the party’s support for independent candidates, Barrister Gohar claimed that PTI had secured 180 seats in the National Assembly and said that all nominees had PTI endorsement on their nomination papers.

Speaking about the negotiations with the Sunni Ittehad Council, Khan said that we have reached an agreement with the party. He reiterated the shared vision of the coalition, saying that the decision to join the Sunni Ittehad Council was aimed at fostering unity and progress. On Monday, a list of 50 MNAs was sent to the ECP, Khan said.

The former commissioner, Liaquat Chatta, and his family should be given protection, Khan demanded.

Meanwhile, the PTI has raised alarm over the ‘serious threats’ to the life of Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi, who had been kept unlawfully in solitary confinement at Banigala sub-jail, suffering from severe pain for the last six days after being provided “substandard, harmful, and poisonous food”. In a reaction to the reports of providing harmful food to Bushra Bibi during imprisonment, PTI spokesperson expressed deep concern over the serious threats to her life, who had been “unjustly and wrongfully imprisoned in a bogus and concocted case”.

The PTI spokesperson called upon the court and the prison authorities to take all much-needed steps to ensure the protection of health and life of the former first lady. He lamented that her family was not being allowed to meet Bushra Bibi as part of a ‘deliberate plan’ to harm her, which was a clear violation of the Constitution and prison rules and regulations.