ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned Azam Khan Swati, senior vice president of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and railway minister, to appear before the ECP on October 21 and explain his position. caustic remark against the commission.
Informed sources told dawn That the decision was taken at an ECP meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, with legal options to initiate contempt proceedings against two federal ministers, the other information minister. Fawad Chaudhry, was discussed for his recent attack on the Commission and the CEC as both the cabinet members failed to respond to the ECP notices within the stipulated time.
Issuing notices to Mr. Swati and Mr. Choudhary on 16 September, the commission had asked them to give evidence within seven days of the charges leveled against the ECP and CEC. According to a source, the PTI senior vice-president had ignored the notice, while Mr Choudhary had sought six weeks’ time to reply to the notice, which was given three weeks ending on October 19.
Decision to review the revision of voter list on weekly basis
This was not the first time that the ECP faced severe criticism and serious allegations from the ruling PTI as the commission after the March Senate elections also advised the party to stop mud-slinging if it had any objections to the constitutional Present more evidence. requirements, declaring that the institution will not succumb to any pressure.
In a renewed attack on the ECP, Minister Swati said on 10 September that such institutions should be set on fire after accusing the commission of “bribery and always rigged”. He also alleged that the ECP is “making fun of the government” and “trying to ruin democracy”.
The allegations came days after the ECP objected to the government’s unilateral decision to introduce electronic voting machines in the next general elections. A fresh scathing attack on the ECP was launched the same evening when Minister Chowdhury, accompanied by Mr Swati and Dr Babar Awan, the Prime Minister’s adviser on parliamentary affairs, accused the ECP of becoming the headquarters of the opposition, accusing the CEC of being a “mouthpiece”. was working as of the opposition”.
Mr Choudhary alleged that the CEC had done politics of “stupid” objections to the voting machines. “If they want to do politics, there will be a backlash,” he warned.
The ECP eventually issued notices to Mr. Choudhary and Mr. Swati on 16 September, seeking evidence about the allegations and provocative statements. Three days later, in what appears to be a move to create a rift within the ECP, Mr Choudhary asked two members of the ECP to “review” the CEC’s decisions. The next day the government intensified criticism and ousted the CEC, with Mr Swati warning him not to “mess up” with the government. In his fresh resume, Mr Swati questioned the appointment of the CEC along with Babar Awan, an aide to the prime minister.
voter’s list
Meanwhile, the ECP on Tuesday decided to review the process of voter list revision on a weekly basis as the process of door-to-door verification of voters had begun, according to an ECP official.
the officer told dawn Confusion was created in CNIC due to incomplete addresses of voters and erroneous census blocks and maps. However, he pointed out that the 2018 general elections and subsequent by-elections were held on the basis of a single electoral roll without any dispute.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended by all provincial election commissioners through video link, who informed the CEC about the revision of voter list and door-to-door verification drive.
The CEC directed the Provincial Election Commissioners to personally monitor the process of revision of electoral rolls in liaison with the Pakistan Statistics Bureau and the district administration concerned in case of any ambiguity to ensure the determination of the correct census block codes.
He said that it should also be ensured to remove the names of the deceased voters from the voter list.
An official recalled that the ECP had in 2019 transferred the names of about 15 million voters enrolled in fields other than their addresses on the computerized national identity cards to their permanent addresses. The move was taken after voters failed to confirm the ECP went where they wanted. Must be registered as a voter by the end of 2018.
Under Section 27 of the Election Act, the official explained, a person shall be deemed to be a resident of an electoral constituency if his temporary or permanent address on his CNIC issued by the National Database and Registration Authority is in the said constituency.
Published in Dawn, October 13, 2021