PTI Oct 4 show unlikely to affect ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), all retired high court judges, will be un-rattled by the October 4 public show of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the federal capital.
The principal aim of the PTI protest is to drive out the ECP members while they have repeatedly stubbornly dismissed such calls and stood ground. They want the PTI to follow the due constitutional process to get rid of them.
Since the PTI’s goal is obviously unachievable, the one-day event is primarily meant to buoy up the election campaign of its three candidates who are contesting the by-polls in Lahore and Lodhran to be held on October 11.
In addition, the public rally is intended to boost up, mainly in Punjab, the PTI’s campaign for the first phase of the forthcoming local council polls later next month. It is taking these elections very seriously to put down the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Even by now it is clear to the PTI that its anti-ECP members movement, spanning several months, which was intensified after the 3-member judicial commission that looked into its charges of poll rigging and rejected them released its findings, has not unnerved these retired judges to the extent where they consider calling it a day.
Seeing the strong reaction of the ECP as an institution, the PTI reconsidered its original decision of staging a prolonged sit-in in front of the office of the electoral body. It dreamed to repeat what it did last year with the basic purpose of augmenting its public standing as it staunchly believes that its 2014 protest greatly popularized it.
As widely expected, the PTI and the Islamabad administration controlled by the interior minister have locked horns over the question of venue of the public meeting.
The capital authorities have conveyed to the PTI in writing that the rally could not be allowed at the D-Chowk.
Obviously, the metro bus which passes under the D-Chowk would be disrupted if the rally was permitted to be held there.
The PTI’s response of turning down the administrative decision is not unusual as it has always tried to whip up such issues out of all proportions. The next few days will experience a lot of confrontation on this subject with the PTI insisting to hold its event at the D-Chowk come what may and the administration snubbing the demand.
Already, the local organizers, who have been assigned to make the event a success, have announced that they would not change their decision.
However, everyone agrees that the present political scenario and the 2014 conspiracy-ridden environment when the PTI launched its long march from Lahore, converting it into a 126-day sit-in, are starkly different. The October 4 episode is not going to cause any major stir.
However, the PTI is moving heaven and earth to make it a big episode.
The capital administration is willing to offer to the PTI some sprawling alternative spaces like the F-9 Park to hold its rally, but the party as usual is unwilling to accept the idea.
It will kick up a lot of dust as per its unquestionable disposition and character in dealing with such matters.