The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has shown its full confidence in the newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) former Justice Sardar Raza, in running the affairs of Election Commission of Pakistan; however, the party says it does not have any confidence in the provincial chief election commissioners.
After a meeting with the CEC, PTI's Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi informed the media persons on Tuesday that his party expressed confidence in the new CEC, but they have no confidence in provincial chief commissioners and members of Election Commission of Pakistan.
"The PTI shared these concerns about the members, but is hopeful that CEC will succeed in holding free and fair elections in future," he added. Qureshi further said that there was a legal way for the removal of members of ECP, but these members should resign on their own on moral grounds, adding, the former CEC had to step down after members of the commission did not let him work freely, he alleged.
Qureshi said the CEC's jurisdiction had been curtailed after the 18th constitutional amendment, and he, too, is working as a member. Qureshi pointed out that restoration of the ECP's credibility would be a big challenge for the new CEC. Referring to PTI member Hamid Khan's constituency, Qureshi said that the polling bags of Hamid constituency are still missing.
He further criticised the ECP's failure to issue details of votes polled at each polling station. He said that it was right of candidates and citizens to have details of ECP's Form-14 and Form-15. Sources said that during their meeting with CEC, PTI leaders demanded reconstitution of ECP, fair investigation into vote rigging allegations, a report on performance of election tribunals, provision of data on extra ballot papers and resignations of ECP provincial chiefs. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was accompanied by Shireen Mazari, Dr Arif Alvi, Hamid Khan and Saifullah Niazi in the meeting with the CEC.