–Farhatullah Babar writes letter to Justice Khosa, says rivals are using ‘executive powers’ against PPP nominee
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday asked Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa to play his role in ensuring transparent by-election in Ghotki’s NA-205 constituency, reported a local media outlet.
PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar jotted down the letter, saying the federal government was trying to rig polls and that there has been a lot of pressure on the local administration and politicians since the acceptance of PPP candidate’s nomination.
“Two mukhtiarkars of Ghotki were abducted to forcefully obtain documents against our candidate. In this regard, FIRs have been registered with the police stations concerned,” he claimed.
“Inam Dharejo who was the chairman of Anti-Corruption Establishment & a senior bureaucrat was unilaterally recalled by the federal government because he happened to be the brother of one of covering candidates.”
He said: “Our opponents are using all executive powers as local government office holders. This issue has been highlighted through our letter dated 04.07.2019 written to the ECP. However, no response in respect of the same can be seen, thus far.”
Besides, an appeal challenging the candidature of PPP’s Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar was filed before an election tribunal but was dismissed.
He said the PPP candidate’s papers were then challenged in the high court that reserved a verdict after hearing arguments and is scheduled to pronounce it on July 16 when campaigning for the by-poll is to end.
“Be that as it may, in case the judgment is announced against our candidate, he will not have sufficient time to approach the Supreme Court and would thus be barred from contesting elections. As a result, not only a candidate but a political party would effectively be disenfranchised,” he apprehended.
