PTI to file references in SJC against ECP members

ISLAMABAD: After mounting maximum political pressure for seeking resignations of four members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would finally announce in its October 4 rally filing of reference against them in Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the sources told ‘The News’ here on Tuesday.
“PTI is actively engaged in contacts with other opposition parties especially Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to pave the way for filing of reference against the ECP members in SJC,” the sources said.
The sources said some senior members have asked PTI chairman Imran Khan that the goal of removing the ECP members can be better achieved through legal options like filing of reference against the ECP members with the support of other political parties.
In view of Article 209 of the Constitution, the SJC comprises the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), two senior most judges of the Supreme Court, and two most senior chief justices of high courts and its main function is to hear complaints against superior court judges, as well as other top government functionaries.
It is pertinent to mention here that PPP has also time and again held the ECP members responsible for alleged rigging in 2013 elections and demanded their resignations especially after the verdict of the Judicial Commission.
The Judicial Commission constituted to probe into allegations of rigging in 2013 elections in its report pointed out irregularities in the elections after which PTI chairman Imran Khan again demanded resignations of the ECP members.
PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq told ‘The News’ that PTI has decided in principle to file reference against the ECP members in SJC due to their alleged involvement in rigging during 2013 elections.
“We have been making contacts with other political parties and hopefully consensus will be developed over the issue of filing of reference against the ECP members in SJC,” he said.
He said the ECP members should have resigned soon after the report of the Judicial Commission that pointed our irregularities in the electoral process.
Naeemul Haq said it is the political right of PTI to raise voice against the ECP members who according to him were involved in rigging in 2013 elections, adding “Every major political party had stated that the 2013 elections were rigged but the ECP members continued to enjoy perks and privileges.”
To a question, he said the October 4 rally at D-Chowk (Islamabad) would be a show of power against the ECP members and PTI would continue to raise voice against them at every forum.
Replying to another question, he said the allegations of rigging were not leveled only by PTI because all major political parties such as PPP and PML-Q also adopted the same stance and held the ECP members responsible for alleged rigging in 2013 elections.