LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allow him to campaign for his party’s candidate in the NA-120 constituency.
Addressing a press conference along with Chaudhry Sarwar, Shafqat Mehmood and other party leaders, Imran Khan alleged that the ruling party was violating the code of conduct issued for the NA-120 by-election. “Ministers are busy in campaigning in NA-120. They are also using the state machinery. Meetings are also being held in the CM House in this regard. The ECP should take note of the violations of the code of conduct during the by-elections,” he said.
Imran urged the Punjab IGP to arrest “goons of the ruling party” for threatening and harassing PTI workers. “Otherwise, we will move court against you for failing to maintain law and order in the area and for favouring the Sharifs. We should not be forced to hold a protest demonstration over the issue,” he said.
He demanded that Nawaz Sharif’s name be put on the Exit Control List (ECL). “He should be treated equally under this law and stopped from travelling to London,” he said.
Imran also offered good wishes for the health of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz.
Referring to the acquittal of Asif Ali Zardari in all corruption cases, the PTI chairman said that it was the result of faulty investigations.
“A deal was reached between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) over the appointment of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman. They have held institutions hostage. Our Ehtisaab commission caught our own minister,” he said.
“I am confident that the same will not happen in the case of Nawaz Sharif because the Supreme Court is overseeing the matter,” he said.
“Even the SC had earlier said that it had no confidence in the National Accountability Bureau chairman. So how can the PTI accept the NAB decisions in the Nawaz Sharif case,” he said.
He said that the nation should stand up against the NAB’s poor prosecution record. “NAB has provided a safe passage to former president Asif Ali Zardari,” he said.
Imran Khan announced to hold a public meeting in Lahore on September 8 in connection with the NA-120 by-elections. He said that no real democracy could prevail till institutes were strengthened.
Published in Daily Times, August 28th 2017.
