Imran Khan censured the ECP for delaying elections in KP

Lahore: Chairman PTI Imran Khan today censured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for delaying elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite the provincial government informing it that it was ready to hold Local Government (LG) elections on November 15th. Earlier in the year, the ECP had also delayed the LG polls in KP despite the provincial government’s readiness to hold them in March. Khan said that there was no issue of gerrymandering in KP so fresh demarcation of constituencies was not needed and the government of KP must be allowed to hold LG polls next month to fulfill its commitments to the people of the province. Khan also questioned why the ECP was unwilling to allow electronic voting in the province despite the demand by the KP government. The ECP’s decision to only allow electronic voting in one tehsil was inexplicable as the KP government had sought to have the same across the whole province.

Khan said the ECP continues to fail in its functions regarding holding of credible elections and after its increasingly questionable performance in the 2013 General Elections there is a need for the present Commissioners to resign and for the ECP to be reconstituted afresh as a truly independent body with independent Commissioners.

Khan also pointed to the delaying tactics of the Speaker National Assembly in allowing the Election Tribunal to proceed with verification in NA 122 first with stay orders then with demand to change Tribunal judge. The ECP is abetting in this delay by not setting aside this last demand, thus bringing to a halt the proceedings of the Tribunal.

Khan reiterated that PTI will continue to fight for an independent ECP so that fair and free elections can be held to strengthen democracy in Pakistan.