Lahore, 5th March: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened an important meeting today to review the allegations made by Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday in his address to the nation.
According to the report of Baaghi TV, ECP has summoned an important meeting on Friday to discuss the alleged use of money and horse-trading in the recent Senate elections claimed by the Prime Minister.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. Other members of the Election Commission also attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed the allegations and statements of the Prime Minister regarding the Election Commission.
After the meeting, a statement was issued by the Election Commission stating that the Senate elections were held in accordance with the Constitution and the law and we are thankful to God Almighty that they ended amicably.
It was sad to hear the views that came to our notice through the media after the election results. In particular, some members of the Federal Cabinet and especially the Prime Minister of Pakistan said in his address yesterday.
In this regard, it is clarified that the Election Commission is a constitutional and independent body. We cannot ignore or amend the Constitution and the law to please anyone. If anyone has any objection to the orders/decisions of the Election Commission, let them take the constitutional path and let us work freely.
The Election Commission rejects the result on which criticism and outrage have been expressed. This is the democracy and a secret ballot was conducted that the whole nation saw and this was the intention of the constitution.
If the constitutional institutions continue to be ridiculed in this way, it is tantamount to their weakness and not that of the Election Commission.
Every political party and person should have the spirit of admitting defeat. The Election Commission, by the grace of God, will continue to carry out its constitutional responsibilities in an efficient manner for the sake of the rule of law and the Constitution.
It is to be noted that after the upset in the Senate elections, the federal ministers had issued a joint press conference and individual statements of which the Election Commission has taken notice.
It may be recalled that the Prime Minister had questioned the performance of the Election Commission in the Senate elections yesterday in his speech after the upset defeat of PTI candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh for the Senate seat from Islamabad on Wednesday.
He said to the ECP, “Your biggest responsibility is a transparent election and it is your constitutional responsibility.”
Addressing the Election Commission, Imran Khan had asked that Why did you they to the court and say there should be a secret ballot?
He also said that the court had allowed the Commission to hold a secret vote but have some sort of identification mechanism whereby the PTI could now have discovered the 15-16 lawmakers who sold themselves off.
The premier alleged that the Commission has saved the criminals with this secret ballot and have hurt the country’s democracy.
The Prime Minister referred to the video where ministers can be seen exchanging currency notes into their bags and said that wasn’t it the responsibility of ECP to investigate such incidents?
He said, “When the country’s leadership takes and gives bribes, will you ask the common man to become honest then but do these things yourself?”
He asked if PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gillani becomes a senator by spending money, will corruption be eradicated from the country?
It is to be noted that after a big upset in the Senate elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced to take a vote of confidence from the House.
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