- Laments state machinery being used against PTI’s candidates with impunity
- Forces of status quo don’t dare to face PTI in free, fair election: Omar Ayub
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan strongly deplored the unabated and rising incidents of openly harassing and attacking the PTI candidates’ proposers and seconders, which, he said, was the worst kind of misuse of authority and abuse of process.
PTI Chairman said: “Today, the first step towards General Elections (scrutiny of nomination forms for general seats) is coming to an end. But up and down the country, state machinery is in full swing against PTI’s candidates whose proposers and seconders or they themselves are being openly harassed, assaulted and pushed back from ROs’ offices.
Barrister Gohar pointed out that this was the worst kind of misuse of authority and abuse of process, as it was flagrant failure of ECP in performance of its constitutional duties.
“We strongly condemn and deplore this. But Tigers to stay steadfast till February 08 and thereafter,” he added.
‘Reign of terror continues unabated’
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan vehemently denounced the politically motivated rejection of nomination papers of PTI leadership and the ongoing spree of abduction and unlawful detention of PTI leaders and supporters, adding that the forces of status quo did not have the courage to face PTI in a free and fair election; hence they were resorting to these shameful tactics.
PTI Secretary General warned that if this pre-poll rigging continued unabated, the transparency of election process is and will be called into question, which would not only further grow the political instability in the country but it would also further erode the national cohesion.
Reacting to the rejecting of nomination papers of PTI’s candidates, Omar Ayub strongly condemned the politically motivated rejection of nomination papers of Murad Saeed, Sahibzada Sighbatullah, Dr Amjad Khan, Fazal Hakim Khan, Mian Sharafat and Salimur Rahman along others.
“Had already predicted that ROs will reject PTI candidates’ nomination papers on flimsy grounds. More rejections of PTI candidates’ nomination papers by under pressure ROs are expected today. These ROs ‘software’ has been duly ‘updated’,” he added.
PTI Secretary General make it clear that the forces of status quo represented by parties like PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, MQM cannot face PTI in a free and fair election and are resorting to these tactics.
“These parties should have the courage to contest against PTI in a free and fair election so that a government emerges as per the will of the people that can steer the country out of its current nightmare,” he said.
However, Omar feared that if this pre-poll rigging continues unabated, the transparency of election process is and will be called into question, adding that political instability will grow exponentially after a rigged election, and national cohesion will further deteriorate.
Reacting to Umar Dar’s abduction, PTI Secretary General strongly condemned the enforced disappearance of Umar Dar, adding that Umar Dar has been abducted from Lahore by unknown people.
“He is Usman Dar’s brother who was himself an enforced disappeared person until his forced interview. He is the son of Mrs Rehana Dar sahiba, who has submitted her nomination papers from Sialkot to contest against Khawaja Asif,” he added.
Omar Ayub noted that the reign of terror against PTI continued unabated. However, he added that everyone should realize that PM Imran Khan and PTI will win because we are on the right path. We submit only to Allah.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General said that Shaheed Major General Sanaullah Khan’s brother, former DIG Rehmatullah Khan, and his other brother Madad Khan were arrested in Mianwali.
“Their crime: Shaheed Major General Sanaullah Khan sacrificed his life for Pakistan, and their brother, former PTI MPA Amin ullah Khan, has applied for a provincial PTI ticket from Mianwali,” he added.
