ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League (AML) chairperson Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed asked the miltablishment to “stay away” from Sunday’s by-polls in Punjab to prove its repeated claims of neutrality.
In a video statement he posted on his Twitter account, Ahmed, an ally of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Ahmed Sunday “is a very important day […] I want to request them [the generals] to stay away from the elections”.
“I have never seen such an election in the country’s history. […] The nation will not tolerate any rigging or attempts at thuggery,” he added, ostensibly calling the military’s “neutrality” into question.
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) July 16, 2022
Ahmed, who had been an ardent pro-establishment politician until April when Khan was ousted through a contentious vote of no-confidence, said the military would have to “prove its impartiality claim in tomorrow’s by-poll”.
He also termed Sunday a “test day for Pakistan’s political stability”.
In his message, the former interior minister also spoke about the government’s formation of a special ministerial committee to pursue high treason proceedings under Article 6 of the Constitution against top leaders of the former PTI government, including Khan.
“This [Supreme Court verdict on no-confidence motion] is a detailed judgement, not a [fresh] one. These people, who have been imposed on the nation through one or two extra votes, are foolish [in that they have decided to pursue the matter],” he said.
He also asked the government to “not stop” Khan’s path if the nation voted for his party in tomorrow’s polls. “If his path is blocked, a fire will spread that will engulf everyone.”
At the outset of his message, Ahmed said a court in Attock has ordered him to appear again on August 8. He said he’s been visiting courts in several districts of Punjab on a daily basis to pursue the “fake cases” registered against him.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) assured “free and transparent” by-elections as 175 candidates are in the run for 20 Punjab Assembly seats.
The election campaign ended at 12:00 midnight on Saturday and Voting will begin at 8:00 am on Sunday.
The constituencies include PP-7 in Rawalpindi; PP-83 in Khushab; PP-90 in Bhakkar; PP-97 in Faisalabad; PP-125 and PP-127 in Jhang; PP-140 in Sheikhupura; PP-15, PP-167; PP-168 and PP-170 in Lahore; PP-202 in Sahiwal; PP-217 in Multan; PP-224 and PP-228 in Lodhran; PP-237 in Bahawalnagar; PP-272 and PP-273 in Muzaffargarh; PP-282 in Layyah and PP-288 in Dera Ghazi Khan.
The results of the by-polls would be essential for the July 22 election for the office of chief minister ordered by the Supreme Court.
PML-N needs to win at least nine seats to gain a majority in the House.
