PTI to hold sit-in on October 4 if ECP members do not resign: Imran

Published August 29, 2015
A high-level party meeting was held in Lahore to decide the future policies regarding the upcoming by-polls. --DawnNews screengrab
A high-level party meeting was held in Lahore to decide the future policies regarding the upcoming by-polls. --DawnNews screengrab

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan announced on Saturday to hold a sit-in in front of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Islamabad if its members do not tender their resignations by October 4.

Imran Khan, who was addressing a public gathering after chairing a party meeting in Lahore, said “there was no justification for the ECP members to hold their posts after 21 political parties had claimed that rigging took place during the 2013 elections".

"We will stage a sit-in on October 4 infront of the ECP's office in Islamabad if the current members do not resign from their posts," said Imran Khan.

Imran on the occasion, invited all his party activists and supporters to join the planned sit-in.

Read: Imran Khan says will come out on streets against ECP

The high-level party meeting was held in Lahore to decide the future course of action and policies regarding the upcoming by-polls in the constituencies where elections tribunals have ruled in favour of PTI.

"For the upcoming by-polls, we will install cameras in every polling station and will train our polling staff to ensure a free and fair election," said Imran while referring to the upcoming by-polls.

“Jehangir Tareen will contest the polls from Lodhran, and from Lahore we will field Shoaib Siddiqui and Aleem Khan," added Imran.

"We do not have any faith in the current members and officials of the ECP as they are PML-N's B team," stated Imran.

Referring to the elections held in 2013, Imran said “We contested the elections as for the first time in Pakistan there was an independent judiciary."

He added that his political party would not have taken to the streets if their earlier demand of opening four constituencies had been entertained by then chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

“After the judiciary under Iftikhar Chaudhry refused to open the four constituencies, it became clear to us that everyone was involved in the rigging,” stated Imran.

Also read: ECP provincial officials have no moral standing left and should resign: Imran

“I had asked for only for four constituencies, and I knew that they would not have obliged me as they were protecting those who had rigged the elections,” added Imran.

Imran Khan speaks to his supporters in Lahore. -DawnNews screengrab
Imran Khan speaks to his supporters in Lahore. -DawnNews screengrab

Imran Khan also said that he respects Justice Nasirul Mulk, as he constituted a free and fair Judicial Commission, and that he accepted the report issued by the commission which claimed that there were 'illegalities and malpractices' during the 2013 elections.

Earlier this week, Imran Khan had warned all members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to transparently answer the questions he raised or he will take to the streets once again.

He had criticised the reply he had earlier received from the body over a letter he had sent questioning its shortcomings in light of the Judicial Commission report, Khan said it was his right to pose questions not only as a Pakistani but also as the chairman of a major political party.

Last week, while addressing a press conference, Imran Khan had said that the ECP provincial officials have no legal or moral standing left and they should immediately resign.

He had also stated that the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman should also tender his resignation as he was part of covering-up the rigging that took place in the general elections of 2013.

Further reading: Imran confident of more decisions against PML-N soon

The ECP on August 22 had de-notified National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq after receiving a copy of the decision announced by Punjab election commission's tribunal.

DawnNews report.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 after which PTI had challenged the results.

Imran, earlier in July had accepted the judicial commission's report, which was constituted to probe alleged rigging during the general elections of 2013.

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