ISLAMABAD: After meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed “satisfaction.”
The envoirnment of today’s meeting was good. He [Raja] listened to us patiently. We also took note of his remarks and will forward them to our chairman, Imran Khan “. After the meeting in Islamabad, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi remarked during a news briefing.
The former foreign minister stated that the PTI would “attempt to facilitate” the electoral commission with the only goal of securing “free, fair, and credible elections” – a long-standing demand of the party.
The PTI group that met with the CEC also included Secretary General Asad Umar and legal issues spokesperson Maleeka Bokhari.
Shah Mehmood stated that the team also conveyed its concerns to the CEC, particularly the violence in Lahore. As well as the subsequent murder of a PTI worker during the alleged battle with police.
“The administration of Lahore imposed Section 144 just as we were ready to begin our march, “he remarked.
Qureshi expressed concern over the caretaker administrations in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and asked, “Could the returning officers (ROs) for elections be neutral?”
He stated that the team also questioned the CEC if ROs might be selected by the courts and that polling station security arrangements were also discussed.
It is unusual for the PTI to meet with the chief election commissioner. As the party has accused the CEC and ECP of favoring the Pakistan Democratic Movement parties (PDM).
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has, at times, branded Raja as Pakistan Muslim League-(PML-N) Nawaz’s agent.
The conference is especially significant since it takes place just days after the election commission issued bailable arrest warrants for two top PTI leaders, Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry, in a case involving “disrespectful” remarks against CEC Raja.
