Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday alleged that PM Imran Khan is provoking federal ministers to “frontally attack” the election commission.
As per the reports, PM Imran recently asked his ministers to back Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Railways Azam Swati who were served notices by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after they levelled serious allegations against the ECP.
“Imran Khan’s advice to his ministers to ‘support’ two of their cabinet colleagues is a provocation to frontally attack Election Commission,” Shehbaz stated.
“He is targeting ECP at a time of massive internal and external challenges. He cannot be allowed to browbeat our institutions into submission,” Shehbaz added.
As per sources, the prime minister in a meeting held yesterday told federal ministers to support Swati and Chaudhry and asked them to accompany them to ECP whenever they are summoned.
It is pertinent to note that in September, Swati had accused the ECP of taking money from companies that make EVMs during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee for Parliamentary Affairs.
On the other hand, Fawad Chaudhry stated that ECP has become headquarters for the Opposition, and that the chief election commissioner is “acting as their mouthpiece”.
Pertaining to the allegations, the ECP served notices to both Chaudhry and Swati on September 16 seeking explanation over the matter, from both the ministers for accusations against CEC Sikander Sultan Raja and the commission.
Both the ministers, on September 23, requested for an extension from the ECP to submit their replies. On September 28, the ECP granted the federal ministers more time to submit their replies regarding the allegations they had levelled.
However, in a hearing of the case on October 27, the ECP issued a show case notice to both Swati and Chaudhry.
A two-member bench comprising ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi heard the case in Islamabad. The ECP officials stated that this is the second notice given to Swati.
Earlier, Swati has been sent two show-cause notices, one with Chaudhry and the other with Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan.
The ECP officials directed the issuance of show-cause notices to Chaudhry as well and adjourned the hearing against him till November 16.
It is pertinent to note that the hearing of the case against Swati was adjourned till November 16. However, no lawyer appeared before the ECP on behalf of Chaudhry.
