PDM stages protest in front of ECP over delay in foreign funding case against PTI
PDM will stage a protest in front of the ECP against the delay in PTI foreign funding case.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The anti-government coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) staged a protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.
The PDM president and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced the protest on Monday in front of the ECP against the delay in PTI foreign funding case.
Fazlur Rehman said that an opposition delegation will present a memorial draft prepared by Zafarullah Khan to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ECP.
Earlier, addressing a press conference with Maryam Nawaz after a PDM steering committee meeting in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the foreign funding case as the ‘biggest scandal in the history of the country’ and said that Imran Khan had created political instability by taking "Mother of NROs".
He said that the meeting discussed the strategy of PDM’s protest before the Election Commission. “On Tuesday, the PDM leadership will stage a massive protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan”, he added.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman alleged that Imran Khan was the main accused in the foreign funding case in which private business was done through a secret account. He said that PDM will protest in front of the ECP office and demand an early verdict as the delay is raising suspicions.
Informing about the decisions taken by the PDM steering committee, he said that on January 21, there will be a million march rejecting Israel followed by a rally in solidarity with Kashmiris on February 5 at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. “There will be a full-scale protest against those who sold off Kashmir”, he said.
He further said that historic rallies would be held in Hyderabad on February 9, Sialkot on February 13, Pishin on February 16, Sargodha on February 23, Khuzdar on February 27, followed by the decision to march towards Islamabad. The final date for the Long March will be announced at the PDM rally, said Fazlur Rehman.
- PTI not sponsored by any mafia, says PM Imran -
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he is proud that our party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was not sponsored by any mafia. If the mafia had invested money, we would have bowed before them.
According to details, a meeting of government leaders was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan in which Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar gave a briefing on the broadsheet case.
The Prime Minister directed the participants of the meeting to put the issue of Broadsheet before the public in detail and the facts contained in it. The broadsheet company was investigating the assets of 20 years ago, the last ten years are yet to be accounted.
He reiterated his commitment that those who looted the country’s wealth could not escape accountability.
PM Imran Khan welcomed Election Commission’s decision to raise foreign funding case and said that the PTI is the only party created with public funding.
Sources said that the Prime Minister has set up a four-member committee on the broadsheet issue. The committee includes Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Babar Awan and Shahzad Akbar.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also briefed the meeting on the PDM meeting and said that the opposition has been allowed to protest within the ambit of the constitution and law.
- ECP security tightened ahead of PDM protest -
In view of the PDM protest planned for Tuesday, the security of the Election Commission of Pakistan has been tightened, with orders to not let protesters enter the ECP building and parking lot.
The administration has issued a security plan, according to which, more than 1800 police personnel will be on duty for the security of the building.
Additional security cameras have also been installed for better surveillance of the ECP office. Officials have been directed to not allow protesters to enter the Election Commission building and parking lot.
On Monday, the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Islamabad visited the Election Commission office and reviewed the security arrangements. On this occasion, DC Islamabad also briefed the Election Commission officials on the security situation.
According to the district administration, 5 SPs and 10 DSPs will be present for maintaining law and order. Protesters and rally participants will park their vehicles in the parking lot of the convention center and come to the Election Commission on foot.
Moreover, Islamabad Police will issue alternative routes to maintain flow of traffic in the vicinities.
