ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee Monday called upon the Supreme Court (SC) to take cognisance of the unprecedented uptick in the “ongoing state coercive measures and reprisal actions” against PTI’s leaders, workers and officials ahead of the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2023.
PTI core committee requested the top court to take immediate notice of the severity of the situation and take effective measures to ensure fulfillment of all constitutional requirements, which were pre-requisite for creating favorable environment to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
The forum noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in consultation with the President of the country fixed the date of February 8 for the next general elections under the supervision of the apex court.
The participants of the meeting stressed the need that holding of free, fair and transparent elections was the basic constitutional and democratic requirements for ensuring supremacy of the constitution and upholding the rule of law, the restoration and stability of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.
The PTI Core Committee contended that the state institutions open interference in political affairs in sheer violation of the constitution and law was polluting and deteriorating the election environment.
The forum pointed out that the brutal and ruthless campaign based on political vendetta was going on against the PTI leaders and workers without any fear of accountability or regard for the law.
PTI core committee warned that affecting the transparency of elections and tampering with the mandate of the people through use of the state power and coercions would further aggravate the prevailing crises in the country.
They made it clear that if the attempts of imposing a specific group of criminals on the nation under the auspices of the state or through the destructive agenda of violating the sanctity of the people’s vote were not shunned, the people would have no choice but to resist any such undemocratic, unlawful and unconstitutional steps with full might.
PTI Core Committee urged that the SC had to intervene to defend and protect the constitution and democracy due to the very controversial role of the compromised electoral watchdog and the caretaker government deprived of credibility and competence.
The forum demanded that the top court should immediately take notice of the discriminatory actions of the state against PTI and ensure providing level playing field and equal opportunities to all political parties to participate in the elections freely.
In the meeting, they held a detailed deliberation on the PTI’s strategy of selecting candidates in the light of the party’s principled decision regarding participation in the elections with full force across the country.
PTI core committee expressed satisfaction over the enthusiasm and interest among candidates in getting PTI’s tickets in every constituency despite the worst state operation against PTI, which, they said, showed a clear indication of crushing defeat of tyrannical and fascist forces in the forthcoming general elections.
They went on to say that despite all the brutal and inhuman tactics, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was the most popular political leader and PTI was the center of hope of the nation.
PTI Core Committee demanded that the ongoing unconstitutional and unlawful tactics of harassing PTI’s officials, especially the election candidates, to forcefully stop them from getting tickets or drive them to join other parties would serve no purpose rather it would add to the humiliation of the inimical forces.
The forum announced that PTI would field its candidates in every constituency of the National and Provincial Assembly and would foil all the state’s attempts to steal the elections come what may.
They demanded that the SC should also take notice of this matter and provide protection to the PTI candidates and ticketholders against the state violence as per law. PTI Core Committee urged that the ECP should immediately allot election symbol ‘bat’ to PTI without any further delay.
