Govt demands resignation from chief election commissioner, wants ECP reconstituted
ISLAMABAD: the govt has asked the chief election commissioner to resign and therefore the committee of Pakistan (ECP) to be reconstituted because it holds the Commission liable for failing to carry the recently-held Senate elections during a transparent manner
"It was a longstanding demand of the prime minister that the facility of cash shouldn't be wont to influence elections," Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, flanked by Information Minister Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry, said in Monday news conference .
"For this purpose, the premier wanted the Senate elections to be held via an open ballot."
Mehmood said it's the only responsibility of the ECP to make sure that transparent polls are held. He said that the govt had told the ECP to implement a system wherein it might not be possible for corrupt practices to require place.
Mehmood said the ECP instead did not uphold its mandate and deliver on its responsibility.
The minister thereafter called on the committee to be reconstituted, alleging that it had did not meet the standards required of it.
"To ensure transparent elections are held is that the responsibility of the committee . This responsibility wasn't fulfilled," he said.
"The committee did not act as a neutral umpire, hence [its officials] should resign," added Mehmood.
Mehmood said the PTI was the most important party within the country and it didn't believe within the ECP.
"If you ask other parties, even they do not believe within the ECP after the recently held elections," he said.
"The ECP's officials should therefore collectively resign and a replacement commission should be formed which enjoys the trust of all parties."
Govt condemns attack on Dr Shahbaz Gill
The education minister also criticised the attack on Dr Shahbaz Gill earlier within the day, alleging that the PML-N instigated the attack.
"A disappointing incident happened today during which shoes and ink were thrown at Shahbaz Gill," he said. "We condemn this attack."
"When matters go consistent with the needs of the PML-N, everything is fine; however, when things go against them, the party decides to attack," said the minister.
"The PML-N has been liable for an attack on the Supreme Court within the past," he recalled.
"When the prime minister was seeking a vote of confidence, their leaders arrived [outside the parliament] to instigate a fight," added Mehmood.
He said the PML-N should reflect on its decisions and actions, which were taking politics towards confrontation and violence.
Tensions rise between ECP, govt
Tensions between the govt and therefore the ECP rose to excitement after the PTI lost the important Senate election for the Islamabad General seat when former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh despite not having sufficient numbers in his camp.
In his address to the state following the election, PM Imran Khan had lashed out at the ECP and accused it of allowing horse-trading to require place.
The commission had hit back at the govt each day later, saying that it's "never come under any kind of pressure and God willing, won't within the future as well".
"We cannot ignore the law and therefore the Constitution to please anyone," the ECP had said.
Referring to former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's victory over Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the ECP had said it 'rejects' the analysis and criticism that's being levelled over one results of the Senate elections.
"This is that the great thing about democracy and independent elections and therefore the vote which the whole nation witnessed, which was consistent with the Constitution," it had said.
The ECP had said that it had heard all delegations that had called thereon to debate election-related matters and conducted an in depth review of their concerns and proposals before the Senate polls.
"The committee hears everyone but fulfills its responsibilities in accordance with the law and Constitution and takes decisions independently, not under any kind of pressure," the statement had read.
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