ISLAMABAD: Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, stated on Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan appears to have “become the headquarters for Opposition parties, with the chief election commissioner serving as their spokesman.”
Fawad claimed no one is pleased with the ECP because “it comes out with odd logic,” at a news briefing in the federal capital with Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and Adviser to the Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan.
According to Fawad, the PTI-led government vowed to make the ECP free, fair, and transparent, and a reform committee led by Justice Nasirul Mulk was established to that purpose. The ECP, on the other hand, continues to be surrounded by controversy due to its “abnormal logic.”
According to the minister, the PTI administration has invited the opposition to join in negotiations over election changes.
“The administration sought to use technology to enhance openness in the election process, but it appears that the ECP has become the headquarters for opposition groups.”
The minister stated that the legislation must be followed by all government institutions, including the ECP.
The election process was extensively scrutinised, according to Fawad, and it was discovered that the top election commissioner was serving as the “mouthpiece of the opposition.”
“The chief election commissioner is in close communication with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif,” Fawad stated, adding that the party officials are attempting to enact legislative modifications that would make the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) a contentious issue.
“Either look at his behaviour or enter politics,” he added of the top election commissioner.
Fawad warned the top election commissioner, “You better not become a tool utilised by tiny political parties.”
Fawad went on to say that anytime the Opposition loses an election, it begins to complain about rigging.
“Our opposition is made up of intellectually challenged parties. The only talent they possess is the ability to obtain extensions for court hearings.”
Fawad stated that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved the use of technology in the voting process in order to promote transparency.
Senator Babar Awan, on the other hand, stated that the electoral reform law was enacted in the National Assembly after eight months, but that the opposition did not make a single recommendation during that time.
“The opposition has turned against election changes because they want to maintain the status quo,” Awan explained.