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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan expressed his optimism that elections would be held on the fixed date of February 8, 2024 come what may, as the Supreme Court (SC) had already shut the door to any delay in general elections.
During his informal interactions with the international media here on Tuesday, PTI Chairman hoped that the polls would not be postponed due to the security related concerns expressed by a political party after a terrorist attack in district Dera Isamail Khan because the police clarified that the terrorists did not target the convey of the political party but a police station was attacked.
He stated that polls postponement was no answer to any problem but a free, transparent and inclusive elections was the sole remedy to all issues.
Barrister Gohar Khan ruled out any possibility of boycotting the polls, as the party would take part in the elections with complete preparations and full force.
PTI Chairman made it clear that PTI wanted elections in the given date of February 8 and the party enthusiasm could be judged from the fact that it fielded the highest number of candidates for the upcoming general elections.
Barrister Gohar Khan reiterated that PTI wanted the SC’s intervention because of the ECP’s inability to perform its due duty, adding that the election body’s sole responsibly was to hold free and fair polls; however the commission miserably failed in performing its constitutional obligations hitherto.
PTI Chairman went on to say that the impartiality and bias of the electoral watchdog could be judged from the fact that it did not implement the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) clear ruling regarding issuing of the party’s symbol “bat” while it took no time to implement orders if passed against the PTI.
Barrister Gohar Khan pointed out that the ECP did not have any role to intervene into the intra-party poll matter but the commission was targeting the party despite holding the most transparent and free party polls among all the registered political parties in the country.
PTI Chairman recalled that the SC in its order clearly stated that depriving a party of an electoral symbol was tantamount to dissolve the party altogether, adding that the PTI was being denied its iconic election symbol despite Peshawar High Court orders, which was too much harsh punishment.
He emphasized that in case the PTI was being deprived of election symbol, who would got the 227 reserved seats, which had a crucial role in electing the President, the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, besides it would promote and encourage horse-trading because all the candidates would contest polls as independent candidates. Thus, he said, who would be blamed for the horse-trading if taken place after the polls.
PTI Chairman stated that the gravity of the situation could be evident from the fact that around 90 percent nomination papers were rejected of the PTI candidates, which was unprecedented.
Barrister Gohar Khan went on to say that there was no civil supremacy and rule of law in the country; hence the judiciary was the only institute that could steer the country out of the prevailing uncertain political situation through its prompt intervention.
PTI Chairman recalled that PTI, its leaders, workers were being subjected to oppression and suppression. He lamented that the women were being treated in jails like terrorists, which would discourage their participation in politics because they would take part in the political if they would have to pay such a heavy price.
Barrister Gohar Khan urged that it was high time the judges of top court should promptly intervene before the situation turned from bad to worse.
He demanded that the people should be given fair chance to decide their fate of their future through their power of votes independently.
Barrister Gohar Khan expressed his apprehension about the poll day and said: “I am very cautious about the elections day which was like a day of judgment and we have no hope of fair play which was evident from the number of pre-polls measures being taken by the commission; hence we repeatedly called upon the top court to take a lead role to address all our polls related genuine concerns to ensure free and transparent polls in the country.”
However, he advised that the workers and the party’s affiliates should exercise restraints and never retaliate in a violent manner and remained peaceful and focus in all circumstance to thwart the bid of spoilers who wanted to sabotage the polls, because they were the ultimate losers.
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