ISLAMABAD: PTI Secretary General Asad Umar has warned the country will move toward a “troubling state” if the public perceive the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is “not doing justice or becoming a silent spectator when the law is violated” during the upcoming by-elections in Punjab. He was addressing a press conference on Friday in Islamabad in connection with the by-elections that will be held on July 17.
Umar asked his party workers to fully prepare for the upcoming elections.
The PTI has alleged that “interference” is afoot to change the results of the upcoming by-polls. It has blamed the government for allegedly changing voters’ lists and using state machinery to benefit ex-PTI candidates the ruling parties are backing.
Asad Umar further said “Whatever they do, the PTI will win with a big majority on July 17. Once Punjab goes out of their hands, what will the imported prime minister do in Islamabad? We are heading towards new elections.”
He also criticized the electoral watchdog and “advised” it to allot itself an election symbol as well since it was “behaving like a political party”.
Umar went on to say claim that it was clear that PTI was “leading prominently” in all constituencies they had visited, as he cited polls.
“The most dangerous thing is illegally registering votes. We have filed a petition. Individual petitions have already been filed but ECP has not taken any action.” Asad Umar said.
Umar added that the law “clearly says votes cannot be changed once election date is announced”, but claimed that new votes had been registered in electoral rolls issued.
“They are mostly those whose temporary or permanent addresses do not fall in that constituency. It is a test for the ECP and courts.”
Meanwhile, the ECP issued a clarification on the matter, saying media reports regarding the registration of votes were “unfounded and based on propaganda to mislead the masses”.
#ECP pic.twitter.com/z5InL5B3oW
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) July 8, 2022
The ECP statement said no change could be made to voter list once the election schedule was announced.
“The ECP is resolved to conduct transparent and peaceful election on the 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly,” the electoral watchdog added.
