‘Bat’ for PTI Shehbaz terms PHC decision attack on ECP authority

LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leaders have declared the Peshawar High Court (PHC) decision of giving ‘bat’ electoral symbol back to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) an attack on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) authority, and pre-poll rigging.

Former prime minister and PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif said the PHC judgment given in the PTI intra-party polls case, was tantamount to trampling upon the ECP authority. He was speaking at a gathering of leaders, workers and supporters of the PMLN here at a hotel on Thursday after he reached Karachi. He lamented that the scales of justice were being tipped in favour of a blue-eyed politician. He said the entire nation expected just verdicts to be given by the judiciary.

The former PM was of the view that the judgment of the ECP on the PTI’s intra-party polls was based on facts. He said it was remorseful that the verdicts given by the judiciary lacked impartiality. He said the candidates who were contesting the general election in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were the relatives of the honourable judge (of PHC who heard the PTI’s petition against ECP’s judgment).

He said the judge in question should have recused himself from hearing the PTI’s petition. The PMLN president said the case in question should have been assigned to such a judge who was impartial and did not have any relations with any contesting candidates. He said a high court of a particular province should not give judgment for the entire country. He said every intelligent Pakistani would like to get an answer on this issue.

The former PM told the audience that his party was fully prepared to contest the upcoming elections, being held on February 8. He informed the audience the blue-eyed politician was the one who had been greeted on his appearance in the courts. He claimed that PTI had resorted to the worst form of treason on May 9 earlier in the year. He said the judgments being given by the courts these days were a matter of concern for many.

Sharif expressed gratitude to the PMLN Sindh President Bashir Memon as owing to his services a large number of Sindh-based politicians and activists were joining the party.

PMLN Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz also criticised the PHC decision and termed it an attack on the constitutional powers of the ECP. She remarked that it was rumoured that the PTI’s henchmen had given relief to the PTI.

The PHC decision legitimized fake and fraudulent intra-party elections, she said and maintained that the decision was a victory of selection over elections.

Separately, talking to the media, PMLN Punjab President and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said in Lahore the PHC single bench decision was a violation of Elections Act 2017. He alleged that a cousin of PHC judge was contesting election on the PTI ticket, and therefore the same decision was expected.

“If the PHC judge followed the law and justice, he would not have heard this case. Despite the conflict of interest, the judge heard the case and gave relief to the group of his cousins,” he said.

Former federal minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leader Mian Javed Latif claimed on Thursday that attempts to make elections controversial were still under way. Speaking to the media here, he wondered why the events related to May 9-10 violence were being swept under the carpet, and why the culprits were not being punished. He said the nation must be informed about the origin of facilitators.

The PMLN leader said planning had been completed, as facilitation starting from Chakwal, to [ex-CJP Umar Ata] Bandial to ex-CJP Saqib Nisar, was still under way; and all characters were coming together again.

Javed Latif, who’s famous for giving hard-hitting statements, said he had been reminding even during the 16-month coalition government that the PTI leadership was being actively facilitated. He questioned why the foreign funding case against the PTI founder was being delayed, though people were asking about the origins of the money received by the PTI. “Someone is being described as ‘innocent’ today. Why we are not being named as ‘faultless’,” he remarked – a clear reference to the remarks passed during a hearing at the Supreme Court.

The former minister said audio-leaks had appeared, which established a connection among the institutions responsible for dispensing justice, “the mother-in-law”, PTI president Parvez Elahi and others. One should discuss and ask again and again who was behind these leaks, but, at the same time, people must be informed whether they were genuine or not, he added.

Former speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the former MPAs and MNAs were being given first priority for party tickets. He was talking to the media after the PMLN parliamentary board meeting, held here on Thursday.

Ayaz Sadiq alleged that the PTI attempted to postpone elections, but it would fail and Nawaz Sharif would be the next prime minister of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Thursday questioned that if the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was bound to issue the election schedule on the court orders, then how come the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could be called independent.

“The law and order situation in the country is not good as two provinces are on the verge of unrest and we want a peaceful environment for the general election.

“When we express our concerns, it is said that we are running away from elections… An atmosphere of judicial martial law has been created in the country,” he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday.

Fazl warned that even if a single worker of his party was martyred or injured during the election, the chief justice of Pakistan and the Chief Election Commissioner’s offices would be responsible for it.

The Maulana said the ECP decision to remove election symbol of ‘bat’ is applicable across the country, and therefore he could not issue an order on it. He alleged that the judge who heard the case and gave a decision on it was working as an additional advocate general during the PTI government.

He claimed that in the last election, one of his cousins was contested election on the PTI ticket, and now another cousin of the judge was contesting elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “Thus they are seen as part of the PTI, if not directly, but indirectly, in terms of family. What should we expect from them? On what basis, they are making decisions? So, the nation did not trust such decisions,” he added.

The JUIF chief said the PTI was not being victimised, but projected and promoted to bring to power and impose on the country once again through a conspiracy.

In a reply to a question, Fazl said it was wrong to snatch nomination papers from any candidates. “Apparently, the PTI is being victimized, but, in fact, it is being projected and encouraged to win elections. Things should be seen from this aspect as well,” he added.