ISLAMABAD: Irked by the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) assertion that it was not answerable to any political party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan alleged on Tuesday that all four provincial members of the ECP had helped the PML-N rig the 2013 general polls and announced that his party would avail itself of all available legal options to have them removed.

He was addressing a press conference after receiving rejoinder to a letter he had written to the chief election commissioner on July 30. The letter sought an explanation from the ECP on its proposals to address and rectify the failures and breaches in the organisation and conduct of the general elections in view of the findings of the inquiry commission. Mr Khan had also sought criminal proceedings under Section 91 of the Representation of People Act 1976, against all officials concerned for breach of official duties during the polls.

ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad — in a letter written to Mr Khan on behalf of the ECP — had enclosed the minutes of an ECP meeting, held on Monday to discuss and deliberate on the PTI chairman’s letter to the CEC. According to the minutes, the commission expressed its dismay over the tone of the letter written to a constitutional entity such as ECP, at the very outset of the meeting.

Seeking an explanation from the commission is the sole obligation of a superior authority, a prerogative the PTI cannot claim to enjoy, the ECP response stated. “A political party has every right to write to the ECP but it has no right to seek explanation or dictate its terms which is tantamount to impeding the independence of the ECP as enshrined in the constitution,” the ECP letter said.

“It was also felt that the action taken on the basis of the final report of the inquiry commission taken so far or to be taken is a matter only for the ECP to decide and does not call for intervention by any other party or agency,” the ECP response said.

Terming the ECP’s rejoinder “a joke”, Mr Khan told reporters that the reason for such a response was that except for the incumbent CEC, all the four other members of the commission were involved in rigging. All the political parties, except the PML-N, had expressed a lack of trust in the ECP.

The PTI chief said it was his right to seek an explanation from the ECP over its failure to hold free, fair and transparent elections, pointing out that his party had obtained eight million votes in the elections. He said that it was now proven that extra ballot papers were printed in Punjab and there existed no record of millions of ballots.

He said he would take all possible legal action to get the four ECP members removed and declared his intention to file a reference against them before the Supreme Judicial Council. He said the issue would also be raised in parliament and contacts with other political parties would also be established to build momentum.

“Do not compel me to do what I do not want. I do not want a street movement,” Mr Khan said, adding that if his efforts were frustrated, he would stage a sit-in outside ECP headquarters.

“Will this election commission hold by-polls in NA-122,” he asked, saying that no-one had any confidence in the commission.

He said that unless those responsible for committing irregularities, which his party considers rigging, were punished, there was no need for new laws.

The PTI chief questioned how the PML-N managed to get 15 million votes in the 2013 elections, compared to seven million votes polled in the 2008 elections and alleged that the PML-N and ECP were in cahoots.

However, in the same breath, he said his party would take part in all elections, including the by-poll in NA-122 and the local government elections, even though he had no trust in the ECP.

Meanwhile, the PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah observed on Tuesday that ECP members had become controversial and should go home with dignity. The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly said his party had been demanding the resignations of ECP members from the very beginning, adding that they were forwarding their own demand, not supporting Imran Khan’s.

He also advised NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to go to the court opinion instead of challenging the election tribunal’s decision before the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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