Former jailed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek- e- Insaf ( PTI), has reiterated its demand for the resignation of chief election commissioner ( CEC ) Sikandar Sultan Raja, citing failure to hold “free and fair” elections.
According to media reports, the protest, led by PTI leaders and members of the national assembly, marched from the parliament to the Pakistani electoral commission (ECP ) and demanded that action be taken against alleged election rigging and injustices against their party.
Omar Ayub, the Leader of Opposition, spearheaded the show, urging CEC Raja and another vote committee members to step over. The political process was teetered by widespread rigging during the February 8 public votes.
According to Ayub, the election commission’s sole responsibility was to carry truthful and impartial polls, but it failed to fulfill its constitutional duties during the rally, according to The News International.
The opposition was met with large stability, preventing demonstrators from reaching the ECP’s main office. Imran Khan, the PTI leader, has been imprisoned since September last time, for his release, according to protesters. Following his faith in the Toshakhana case, Khan was afterward transferred to the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He was first imprisoned in District Jail Attock upon his imprisonment on August 5, 2023.
” The gates of judges have been closed on criticism leaders, our people are in prison, and history will remember them”, said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, addressing the march.
” Now, we have come out against this unfairness. Our voice is not being heard in this House ( Parliament ). Whatever we said in the House, our speech was silenced. We want the women’s transfer. This is a clear violation of human rights”, he continued.
Another key PTI head, Asad Qaiser, even addressed the protesters, highlighting the challenges faced by the party article- elections.
” On May 9, we were targeted under the pretense that we are never engaging in negotiations.” Our message is never heard in parliament, which amounts to our total abuse”, said Qaiser.
Through intensive agreements, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party forged a partnership state following the contentious elections. The findings were scattered, with separate candidates—many supported by PTI—winning 93 out of the 265 National Assembly seats contested on February 8.
