The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday questioned again the use of a 4,800cc vehicle worth Rs50 million by the chief election commissioner (CEC) despite being entitled to only a 1,600cc vehicle.
A private media outlet reported that PTI’s Central Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary submitted a letter to the Cabinet Division, in which he asked the division’s secretary to provide details of the assets of CEC Justice (retd) Sardar Mohammad Raza, his children and spouse within 15 days under the Right to Information Act.
“I, as a citizen of Pakistan, have the right to know that under what law chief election commissioner has been authorised to use such a luxury vehicle?” read the letter.
The PTI spokesperson had previously raised the issue as well, to which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had said that Fawad Chaudhary was levelling such allegations because the CEC had refused to fulfil his demand of meeting him in person.
The statement issued by the ECP termed the allegations as baseless and ill-intended and warned that legal action will be taken if the allegations are repeated. However, it had fallen short of clarifying whether the vehicle in question was actually in the CEC’s use against the prescribed rules.
Earlier today, while speaking to the media after the ECP allowed Ayesha Gulalai to remain an MNA, Chaudhary said, “Her occupation of this seat violates the rights of those women in the party who are involved in a political struggle.” He also brought up the issue of the CEC’s special utility vehicle (SUV), while admitting that he did request for a meeting with the ECP chief and he was entitled to it.
Chaudhary also questioned why the ECP office was closed for the journalists and political workers. “They check the assets of all parliamentarians but when you ask about their assets, they say it is contempt.”
