Attitude of ECP tantamount to depriving parliament of its privileges: Fawad Ch

Attitude of ECP tantamount to depriving parliament of its privileges: Fawad Ch

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has said that the attitude of the Election Commission is tantamount to depriving the Parliament of its privileges.

In a press conference with Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Swati, the Federal Minister for Information said that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and company were making the whole matter controversial.

Minister said that it seems that the Election Commission has now become the headquarters of the opposition. “We want to use technology to make elections transparent but the logic of the Election Commission is strange,” he said.

Fawad Chaudhry said that the attitude of the Election Commission today is tantamount to depriving the parliament of its privileges. He said that unfortunately, the thinking of the opposition is limited to taking dates from courts in their cases. Only strong parliament can make the politics of the country better, he added.

Federal minister said in the 2018 elections, people expressed confidence in Imran Khan. He said that the PTI promised to make the elections transparent in its manifesto, adding incumbent government is the first that has put forward proposals in this regard.

He said that the power to make laws lies with the Parliament not with the ECP. He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner wants to act as the mouthpiece of the opposition.

While criticizing the chief election commissioner Fawad said that he had been in close touch with Nawaz Sharif and may have personal sympathy with him adding if we do not trust the election commissioner, how will he conduct elections.

He said that the chief election commissioner should not become a tool of small political parties adding CEC has played politics of stupid objections on EVMs. If they want to do politics then the response will come, he warned.

Senate committee rejects amendment related to use of EVM

Senate committee on Friday rejected amendment related to the use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in elections.

During the session of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, reform regarding E-voting for overseas Pakistanis has also been rejected. 

Azam Swati alleges ECP of taking bribes

Earlier Federal minister Azam Swati on Friday leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of taking bribes.

During the session of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the minister criticized the commission for making fun of the Parliament.

In a protest against the statement of Azam Swati, the ECP officials walked out of the meeting.

Opposition expresses concerns over allegations against ECP

On the other hand opposition parties expressed their concerns over accusing Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of taking money during the polls.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and opposition leader in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif lashed out at the government ministers and said that they have no proper argument regarding electronic voting machine.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said that government representatives threatened the national institutions whereas we criticized the hidden negative elements.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also expressed its reservation over accusation against the election commission.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman said that the government is not ready to accept 37 objections and wants to exercise its full will in the elections.