PTI shows no trust in chief election commissioner – Newspaper

ISLAMABAD: The main leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have raised questions about the impartiality of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), retired judge Sardar Muhammad Raza, who will likely issue a verdict in the case of foreign financing of the PTI before his Withdrawal on December 6. .

The PTI central committee, which met on Sunday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the presidency, reiterated its demand that the Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP) classify the cases of foreign financing of the three main political actors in the country: PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and refrain from pointing to the ruling party.

A source, who attended the meeting, said Sunrise that some "administrative changes" would be made soon in the Punjab ruled by the PTI, when the prime minister would visit Lahore and hold a series of meetings there.

In response to a question about the foreign financing case of the PTI, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Information, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, said at a press conference held after the central committee meeting: "Daal mein kuchh kaala hai, yaa saari dal hi kaali hai? "

He wondered why the chief election commissioner was in a hurry to decide the case against the PTI and why similar requests from the PTI against the PML-N and the PPP were not being entertained.

Probable changes in the Punjab configuration soon; PM assistant looks for Nawaz health update

The foreign financing case of PTI is being handled by the ECP for the past five years and the commission has decided to listen to it daily since Tuesday (tomorrow), giving the impression that it can be decided within the next 15 years. days.

“What is the urgency to decide the case? Individuals do not matter; They come and go, but the institutions continue. The ECP must follow the rules, give equal opportunities to all parties and carry out a general responsibility, "said Dr. Awan.

When asked what the PTI would do if the judgment in the case were against it, he said his party had already provided "all the evidence and audit reports" related to the case.

"Although the opposition submits new claims every day that the government will no longer be there after a trial against it, the truth will prevail when the PCE decides the matter in the light of the Constitution and the law," he said.

The government spokesman added: “There is no harm if Pakistani abroad consider the PTI as a savior and support it monetarily. It is incorrect to call it foreign financing because foreign funds are those granted by a foreign organization or country, ”he said.

Dr. Awan said that opposition parties that had not accepted the results of the 2018 elections were now expressing confidence in the same PCE that had conducted those surveys and also sought an early decision in the case of PTI foreign financing. .

Nawaz's departure

Asked why Prime Minister Khan had recently raised questions about the departure of the PML-N supreme country, Nawaz Sharif, even though he [the prime minister] he himself had informed the nation that the former prime minister was very ill, Dr. Awan said: "Sharif was allowed to leave the country to receive medical treatment based on some medical reports, but now the government and the nation want to know what type of treatment is being given abroad and what are his latest reports. "

She said people were asking why the prime minister had allowed a convicted person to leave the country. "What Prime Minister Imran Khan said in his recent speech was the voice of the entire nation," he said.

"We want to know what your ailment is."

Islamophobia

The PTI central committee condemned the growing cases of Islamophobia in Europe, as most recently reflected in an incident in Norway, the government spokesman said.

"Such actions add to the spread of Islamophobia and hate crimes against Muslims," ​​he said and added that the committee had asked the Islamic Cooperation Organization (ICO) to raise the issue and condemn the Norwegian incident.

The central committee also asked the European Union to take note of violent actions / crimes against Islam and Muslims in EU member states and European countries. "Such hate-inspired actions are contrary to the EU human rights convention and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the issue of limitations on freedom of expression in relation to attacks against Muslims and Islam" .

Speaking about the government's performance, he said that Prime Minister Khan had asked the federal government and the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to complete all ongoing projects without delay so that people could benefit from them.

When asked why he had proposed the name of a former general director of Public Relations between Services, Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, for the position of general director of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority, said he had been nominated in the recommendation of experts based on strategic concerns and their experience.

Changes in Punjab?

It is speculated on social networks that Sardar Usman Buzdar could be removed from the post of Prime Minister of Punjab due to frequent complaints against him.

Read: Calls for an increase in the expulsion of Buzdar in PTI

A source said that after the central committee meeting, the prime minister held a separate meeting with Buzdar.

The prime minister, he said, would stay in Punjab for a day or two and make some drastic changes in the provincial configuration.

Buzdar was among the PTI leaders who attended the committee meeting. Other attendees were Jahangir Tareen, Imran Ismail, Pervez Khattak, Chaudhry Sarwar, Dr. Babar Awan, Shafqat Mehmood, Dr. Shireen Mazari and Dr. Awan.

Published on Dawn, November 25, 2019