PML-N cancels sit-in, marches to ECP office

Leaders of opposition parties on Monday expressed full confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and demanded an immediate and impartial delimitation of constituencies in Karachi.
They expressed the views while addressing the participants of the PML-N-led march in support of the ECP and delimitation of constituencies in Karachi in Islamabad. The PML-N announced earlier on Monday that it was cancelling the sit-in outside the Election Commission’s office in Islamabad and would instead march until the commission’s building. The decision was taken at a PML-N parliamentary meeting chaired by Nisar Ali Khan.
Addressing the participants, JI leader Liaquat Baloch said all opposition parties had complete confidence in the ECP and its structure, adding that the people of Karachi would not be left alone.
On the occasion, PML-N leader Saleem Zia said a seven-member opposition delegation had presented a memorandum to the Election Commission. During the talks it was decided that opposition parties and the ECP would hold a meeting on February 6.
The memorandum expressed complete confidence in the Election Commission and demanded an early completion of the process of verification of voters in Karachi under supervision of the army. They also demanded delimitations of constituencies in Karachi. The memorandum also called for resignation of the governors of all four provinces and replacement of senior officials on formation of the caretaker government. “We are demanding delimitations of constituencies in Karachi and door-to-door verification of voters with the help of the army according to the orders of the Supreme Court,” the PML-N leader said.
He said it was for the first time in history of the country that the chief election commissioner was appointed with consensus of all political forces of the country. The PML-N leader expressed concern that the Pakistan Army personnel were not accompanying the ECP staff during the verification process in Karachi, adding that army personnel were accompanying ECP staff in specific areas.
Zia said old delimitations enacted by former dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf were not acceptable at all. “We want strong and stable ECP and it should work without any pressure”, he added. Leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the sit-in was in continuation of the recent sit-ins in Karachi for completion of the process of voters’ verification in Karachi and delimitation of the constituencies of the city as directed by the Supreme Court.
Others who attended the march included leaders and workers of PML-N‚ PML-F‚ Jamaat-e-Islami‚ Muslim League-LM‚ Jamhoori Watan Party‚ Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party‚ NPP‚ Sunni Tehreek and Sindh Awami Tehreek. On Sunday, PML-N Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan had said that those participating in the march would stage a brief sit-in near the ECP building where some leaders would deliver speeches. He had alleged that hurdles were being created in the way of the ECP, which was struggling to implement the Supreme Court’s order about verification of voters’ list in Karachi.