PTI chief rebukes ECP for delay in LB elections in KP, refusal to all electronic voting in all constituencies
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Sunday censured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for delaying elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) even though the provincial government had informed the commsion that it was ready to hold Local Bodies (LB) elections on November 15.
Earlier this year, the ECP had delayed LB polls in KP despite the provincial government’s readiness to hold them in March. Khan said that there was no issue of gerrymandering in KP so fresh demarcation of constituencies was not needed and the Government of KP must be allowed to hold LB polls next month to fulfill its commitments to the people of the province.
Khan also questioned why the ECP was unwilling to allow electronic voting in the province despite the demand by the KP government. The ECP’s decision to only allow electronic voting in one tehsil was inexplicable as the KP government had sought to have the same across the whole province, he said.
“ECP continues to fail in its functions regarding holding of credible elections and after its increasingly questionable performance in the 2013 General Elections there is a need for the present commissioners to resign and for the ECP to be reconstituted afresh as a truly independent body with independent commissioners,” the PTI chief reportedly said.
He also pointed out the “delaying tactics” of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in allowing the election tribunal to proceed with verification in constituency NA-122 first with stay orders and then with a demand to change the tribunal judge. He said that the ECP is abetting in this delay by not setting aside the last demand, thus bringing to a halt the proceedings of the tribunal. Khan reiterated that the PTI would continue to fight for an independent ECP so that fair and free elections can be held to strengthen democracy in Pakistan.
