‘Nominal’ security cover to two former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) prime ministers and the Sindh chief minister was withdrawn immediately, while hundreds of security personnel attached to the Sharifs remain on duty despite clear orders by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against such measures on April 13, PPP Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Friday.
He said the preferential treatment being meted out to the Sharifs was discriminatory and against the imperatives of neutrality and impartiality and fell beyond the mandate of the caretakers.
He argued that Sharifs conducting their election campaign with the level of protocol being accorded to them would influence the electorates and hurt prospects of holding fair, free and transparent elections in the country. The legitimacy of the whole electoral process is at stake, he added.
He urged the caretaker Punjab chief minister to take notice of the whole situation and implement instructions of the ECP because a delay of more than six days already had given credence to the impression that Sharifs continue to rule in Punjab.
He expressed confidence that the PPP would emerge as the largest party in the country after the forthcoming elections despite being denied a “level-playing field” by the caretaker government.
He expressed resolve that the PPP would continue to strengthen the democratic process despite all odds against it, like it had done in the past.