- PTI chief says election body working on PML-N’s behest
- ‘We will even go to SC against ECP’s ‘biased’ behaviour’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Thursday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) does not have the authority to issue arrest warrants.
“Our case is being heard by Islamabad High Court,” he said while addressing a joint press conference along with Pakistan Awami League chief Dr Tahirul Qadri. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had issued arrest warrants of the PTI chairman.
Imran said that the Election Commission has never heard a contempt of court case before his case. “The ECP is working on behest of the Pakistan Muslim League-N,” he claimed. “Since we filed the Panama Papers case petition, so many cases have been filed against us,” he said.
He said that some cases were even heard by the Supreme Court. “ECP is only responsible for ensuring that the elections are transparent. If we have to, then we will even go to the Supreme Court regarding this ‘biased’ behaviour of the poll body,” he said.
The PTI chairman also claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Maryam Nawaz disrespects the judiciary on a daily basis. He claimed that daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was behaving like a deputy prime minister in the run-up to the by-polls in the NA-120 constituency.
“You were disqualified for your dishonesty. You were disqualified because you concealed facts and forged official documents,” Qadri said while referring to PML-N’s statements that the former prime minister was disqualified due to iqama.
Speaking about the upcoming NA-120 by-election, he said that the nation has to make a decision if it wants to see a powerful judiciary or not. “Nawaz Sharif doesn’t even consider his voters as humans. The so-called development projects all revolve around his corruption,” he added.
Earlier, Imran had said that the NA-120 by-election will decide Pakistan’s future. “On September 17, you have to show that you stand with the judiciary. Exercise your right to vote in favour of the law,” he said, adding that the people’s vote will empower the judges.
BY-POLL: The NA-120 seat fell vacant after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister as a result of the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Papers case on July 28. A tough contest is expected between PML-N leader Kulsoom Nawaz and PTI candidate Yasmin Rashid on September 17.
In light of the former first lady’s ongoing medical treatment in London, her daughter Maryam is spearheading the campaign in the constituency. Ballot papers for the by-election are being printed with the process being monitored by the army.
The ECP said a total of 350,000 ballot papers are being printed for the by-poll, where 324,786 voters are registered to cast their vote. Moreover, the army will be responsible for the storage and distribution of ballot papers to the polling stations.
A total of 44 candidates will contest the NA-120 by-poll. The Election Commission will establish 220 polling stations and 573 polling booths where the constituency’s 321,786 registered voters can cast their vote.