- PTI leaders presented COD to CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.
- They convey to the ECP the party’s concerns regarding the February 8 elections.
- The party demands that the ECP give the election symbol of “bat” to PTI.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with a 24-point charter of demands (COD) to “conduct free, fair and transparent general elections” and provide facilities to the party. Did. According to the report, “a level playing field to conduct election campaigns freely”. news on Thursday.
Senior leaders and legal representatives of PTI, including Barrister Gauhar Ali and Dr Babar Awan, presented the COD to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja during their 45-minute long meeting at the ECP Secretariat on Wednesday.
During the meeting PTI leaders conveyed their concerns regarding the February 8 elections and discussed in detail the obstacles hampering their campaign.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, PTI spokesperson Barrister Gohar Ali urged the ECP to issue a decision and end the uncertainty on the petitions filed by the party on October 18 and 30 respectively regarding the election symbol.
He demanded that the ECP should immediately allot the election symbol of “Balla” to the party and provide level playing field.
Ali claimed that the CEC had assured the delegation that the bat election symbol would be given to PTI and it would be on the ballot in the elections.
He said that PTI in COD also demanded the release and recovery of abducted and arrested PTI workers and leaders. Gohar Ali said he informed the ECP that PTI was not being allowed to organize public meetings, rallies and street meetings in private premises.
The PTI spokesperson reported that their requests to hold public meetings were either unnecessarily delayed, or even outright denied.
During the meeting, he said, he highlighted the challenges faced by PTI in organizing meetings and printing flags and banners. He claimed that the party was not even allowed to print party flags and banners.
Gohar Ali pointed out that there were untold hurdles in his election campaign and hence, he requested a notification from the ECP to enable a fair and impartial electoral process. He also raised the issue of “illegal release of huge funds by the caretaker government” with the CEC, and said that the caretaker government’s move to release the funds was beyond its constitutional mandate and authority.
On a question about the PTI chairman, the spokesperson clearly said that Imran Khan will remain the party chief, even if he is in “illegal imprisonment”, and the question of excluding him from the electoral battle does not arise.
He stressed that it is the constitutional responsibility of the ECP to maintain a level playing field for all political parties; Therefore, the electoral body must play its constitutional role in this regard.
