- Advocate Gohar, Babar Awan meet CEC, inform him about curbs on PTI’s political activities
- CEC assures addressal of PTI’s all legitimate concerns: Gohar
- Vows Imran Khan was, is, will be Chairman PTI come what may
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presented a 24-point Charter of Demand before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure holding of free, fair and transparent general elections and provide PTI level playing field to conduct freely election campaigns.
The PTI’s senior leaders and legal representatives Barrister Gohar Ali and Dr Babar Awan presented the CoD to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja during their 45-minute-long meeting took place here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, PTI leaders shared their concerns pertaining to the forthcoming general elections scheduled to be held on February 8 and talked about obstacles impeding their election campaign in detail.
بیرسٹر گوہر علی کی الیکشن کمیشن کے باہر ٹاک
الیکشن کمیشن سے بابر اعوان اور میں نے ملاقات کی،
ملاقات ہماری درخواست پر ہوئی،
تقریبا 45 منٹ کی ملاقات ہوئی جس میں چیف الیکشن کمشنر اور ممبرز موجود تھے،
ہم نے چارٹر آف ڈیمانڈ الیکشن کمیشن کو دیا،
ہم نے کہا کہ ہمیں میٹنگ کی اجازت… pic.twitter.com/YC57pQOehF
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 8, 2023
Speaking to media after the meeting, PTI spokesperson Barrister Gohar Ali urged the electoral watchdog to release the long-pending written decision to the petitions filed by PTI on October 18 and 30 respectively regarding PTI’s electoral symbol ‘Bat’ to put an end on the prevailing uncertainty once and for all.
He demanded that the ECP should instantly allot the party with the electoral symbol “Bat” and provide a level playing field.
PTI spokesperson declared that the CEC assured them that the symbol of the “Bat” was of PTI electoral symbol and it would be on the ballot paper in the coming elections, hoping that the ECP would sort out the issue in next two days.
PTI spokesperson highlighted that in the CoD, PTI also demanded the release and recovery of kidnapped and arrested PTI workers and leaders.
Barrister Gohar Ali said that they informed the ECP that PTI was not being allowed to hold public gatherings, rallies and corner meetings in private premises.
PTI spokesperson pointed out that either their requests for holding public meetings were unduly delayed or even flatly refused.
He said, during the meeting, they highlighted the challenges being faced by PTI in conducting meetings and printing flags and banners, as the party was not even allowed to print party flags and banners.
Barrister Gohar Ali highlighted that there were untold obstacles in their election campaign and hence, they requested a notification from ECP to enable a fair and just electoral process.
He stated that they also took up the issue of illegal release of huge funds by the caretaker government in the meeting, adding that the caretaker government’s move of releasing funds was beyond their constitutional mandate and authority.
Moreover, PTI spokesperson noted that they also drew the ECP’s attention towards the appointments of PML-N candidates as Chairpersons of the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs), which was a clear pre poll rigging and the commission should take instant notice of it.
To a question about PTI Chairman, PTI spokesperson categorically stated that Imran Khan was, is and would the Chairman of PTI even if he was in the illegal incarceration and it was out of question to minus him from the electoral battle.
He stressed that it was the constitutional responsibility of the ECP to maintain a level playing field for all political parties; therefore, the electoral body should play its constitutional role in this regard.
Gohar Ali noted that the CEC assured them that the institution would leave no stone unturned and would take all possible steps to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
He pointed out that at present, PTI was being denied its constitutional, legal and political rights.
However, PTI spokesperson said that the Chief Election Commissioner assured implementation of all the PTI’s legitimate demands and hoped that he would take tangible and practical steps to address the party’s genuine concerns forthwith.
