President asks CEC to take note of political mudslinging at him

President’s spokesman Farhatullah  Babar on Wednesday requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to take action against some political parties, mainly the PML-N, for criticising President Asif Ali Zardari during the ongoing election campaign.

“During the ongoing electioneering campaign a section of the political leadership, particularly that of PML-N, has been hurling accusation against the president that tend to inevitably drag the president into a political controversy. The president, on the other hand, is severely handicapped because out of deference to the court observation he cannot react to the accusation by employing befitting political jargon,” read a letter by Senator Farhatullah Babar addressed to ECP.

The letter stated that on the order of Lahore High Court, the president disassociated himself from political activities and holding meetings that could be seen as partisan political in nature.

Babar said direct criticism of the president, while the president himself was severely handicapped to respond, was denying a level playing filed to the party that was contesting elections using slogans and images of Shaheed Bhuttos.

He requested the ECP to direct political parties, particularly the PML-N leadership, to desist from partisan political attacks against the president.

After handing over the letter to Election Commission Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan‚ Babar told reporters that Pakistan People’s Party was a party that was furthering messages of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto through its manifesto.

He said Zardari had shown satisfaction over the progress of Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the upcoming elections.

However‚ commenting on the violations of election code of conduct was the responsibility of political parties rather than the president.