ECP feeling bullied by PTI, PPP

• Sources say Punjab’s Justice (r) Riaz Kayani, Sindh’s Justice (r) Roshan Ali Essani and KP’s Justice (r) Shahzad Akbar have made up mind to resign
• Claim PM mulling over proposal to ‘encourage’ ECP men to step down than falling prey to pressure tactics

The arm-twisting by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has forced the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to rethink its strategy and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is seriously mulling over relieving four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) if they decide to tender resignations, Pakistan Today has reliably learnt.

Political temperatures are rising in wake of a sit-in call by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who has asked his supporters to lay a siege to the ECP headquarters on October 4 to force the four ECP members to step down after their alleged failure to hold transparent and rigging-free elections in 2013.

The PPP, on the other hand, has joined PTI’s bandwagon, announcing a boycott of the by-polls if ECP members do not resign.

PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman has said that they did not want to take to the streets, but free and fair local body elections are not possible under the ECP members. Speaking at a press conference, she said all four provincial election commissioners should have resigned immediately after the 2013 general election.

Political observers, however, rejected demands being made by PPP, since the ECP members had been appointed by the four provincial governments when the PPP government was in place.

Meanwhile, sources in the ECP have told Pakistan Today that cracks had already emerged among the ECP members following strong criticism by tribunal judges. However, PPP’s support to PTI demands have proved to be the last straw, and has left ECP members shattered.

“Out of the four members, three have almost made up their minds to go home if they are given some assurances. The fourth member from Balochistan may also opt for the same but he could not be reached as he is in Quetta because of his son’s death,” the sources say.

“There is no scheduled meeting in the ECP today to discuss the emerging situation in wake of the demands by PPP and the sit-in announced by the PTI chief, however, there is a likelihood that the ECP members would sit together today at the ECP headquarters to devise a future strategy,” the source in the ECP told Pakistan Today.

He said that though initially none of the members wanted to step down, but the joint call by PTI and PPP following successive tribunal decisions about massive irregularities in 2013 polls has developed enough pressure on them that they were mulling to resign.

The source said that Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan and Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad have impeccable service record and both were unhappy with the role of the ECP members during the 2013 polls.

“The recent decisions by tribunals and findings of the tribunal judges have badly damaged the ECP’s public impression. So even the CEC and secretary are unhappy with the role of the ECP members which has also developed pressure over the ECP members to resign,” the source added.

However, the source said that the ECP members want an honourable exit and might seek some quid pro-quo for tendering resignations.

“Since they have served as honourable judges, they might seek solid guarantees that they would not be summoned and grilled in the media in the future scenario,” the source said.

The source added that Justice (r) Riaz Kayani, the member from Punjab, has twice hinted at his resignation recently due to the vilification campaign against him. Moreover, Justice (r) Roshan Ali Essani from Sindh and Justice (r) Shahzad Akbar from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also made up their minds to resign while the member from Balochistan could not be reached as he was on leave due to the demise of his son in Quetta.

The source said that the three members would meet today (Monday) at the ECP to discuss their future strategy.

When contacted, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said there was no scheduled meeting at the ECP to discuss the reports of resignations by the four ECP members.

“Three ECP members are likely to assume their duties at the ECP today. Frankly we have no knowledge of their decision about resignation. We only learnt it through media. However, since they would be in the office on Monday, they might gather informally to discuss the future course once they finish their duties,” he added.

PML-N BELIEVES IT’S TIME TO LET ECP MEMBERS GO:

In the meanwhile, well-placed sources in the ruling party have revealed to this scribe that the PPP leadership wanted the government to let its leadership off the hook regarding the ongoing corruption probe in most parts of Sindh or it would rather rock the boat.

“In its bid to seek political favours, the PPP leadership is quietly exerting pressure on the federal government by supporting the demand of PTI against the ECP members. We think this is a mere arm-twisting tactic but we are not ready to be cowed down,” a well placed source in the PML-N government said, adding that the government may rather deprive the opposition of the reason to question the electoral system.

“The prime minister is mulling a proposal to facilitate and encourage ECP members to step down rather than fall prey to pressure tactics of the leaders of the PPP vis-a-vis the anti-corruption drive,” the source added.

Jan Achakzai, the spokesman for PML-N’s coalition partner Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, viewed the developing situation leading towards a snap polls in the country.

He said that initially it was Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) that was crying foul after the Rangers launched a massive crackdown against criminals, terrorists and mafia groups active in Karachi. Now, he added, the PPP has also joined the chorus with claims that it’s leadership was being targeted which means they are being pushed against the wall and their own government in Sindh can’t do much to help stop this ‘victimisation’.

“The PPP won’t allow the establishment to arrest its leader, Asif Ali Zardari. Therefore, they are creating a situation where entire government would fall. The PPP is planning to take along all the opposition parties on one platform – including the MQM and even the PTI, to tender en mass resignations, paving the way for new elections in the country,” the JUI-F leader said.

He asserted that the situation for the PML-N leadership knew the grave challenges ahead and it was adopting a cautious approach to help avert any such scenario.

“The PML-N won’t allow convergence between the PPP and the PTI. They would like to deal with the PTI which is supposedly close with the establishment. So their plan is to get ECP members’ resignations to ensure that the PPP does not create a situation for snap polls,” he added.