ISLAMABAD: A three-member committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday presented a 25-point charter of demand (CoD) to the Election Commission of Pakistan, calling upon the commission to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country within the timeframe of 90 days from the dissolution of the National Assembly fixed by the constitution.
The PTI committee, comprising Senator Ali Zafar, Dr Babar Awan and Barrister Gohar Khan presented the charter of demand at a meeting held at Election Commission of Pakistan here on Thursday.
The charter of demand is as under: former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan is currently incarcerated as a prisoner of conscience, our leaders mentioned in the list of attendees for the ECP meeting have not been allowed to attend. The PTI being victimised and perse as a political entity while the ECP is delaying a written order in the PTI’s election symbol case. It reads: ‘enforced staged encounters’ of PTI leadership staged to force them to renounce the party while the ‘enforced disappeared leaders’ have been forcibly made to give interviews/statements to announce quitting the PTI. The charter says: there is no level playing field for PTI while the election schedule and holding elections in 90 days. Schedule had to be announced after meeting the President. January month announced by ECP without a specific date is wrong. It is outside 90 days limit stipulated by the Constitution.
The charter says: President has to announce the date and the ECP has to give a schedule within 90 days, matter is pending with the Supreme Court, which has instructed the ECP to keep it apprised of the election preparations. “On the other hand, delimitation process is being used as tactic by the ECP”, it adds.
The charter reads: “Smart Phones be allowed on the premises of the polling Station except where a vote is cast. Returning Officers should be properly instructed. ROs should be properly instructed.”
Flags in Cantts and other Government premises such as WAPDA Colonies and Dam Colonies etc. should be allowed.
Rigging & Pre Poll Rigging Issues: The ECP should issue instructions that PTI should be allowed to conduct political meetings.
It regretted that the ANP was allowed to conduct a meeting in Hangu and provided 183 people for security. On the same day, PTI was denied permission to hold a political meeting on the pretext on insufficient security personnel but 283 policemen were used to baton charge PTI activists in Hangu that very day. The Police used the shortage of police personnel as an excuse to deny PTI holding a political meeting.
The charter presented to the ECP says: “Letters were written by PTI KP to the KP Govt seeking permission to hold political jalsas but the party was denied permission. (No denial or permission) – Tacit refusal and then action taken against us. PTI Flags and materials manufacturers are not allowed to produce PTI material. PEMRA should be instructed to give air time to PTI and Imran Khan. PML-N etc are allowed on TV channels and PTV distributes the feed.
