Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday called on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, demanding deployment of army in upcoming NA-122 and NA-154 by-elections. Imran Khan who was accompanied by Jehangir Khan Tarin and Asad Umar, claimed that he was assured by the CEC that shortcomings committed in the last general elections would not be repeated in future.
Khan reiterated for holding a rally on October 4 in federal capital against four members of the ECP for their alleged involvement in rigging during the 2013 general elections. Talking to media persons after his meeting with the CEC, he said his party will protest on October 4 in front of ECP building as the commission's members have no moral ground to stay there especially after the Judicial Commission report in addition to complaints from 21 parties. He further alleged that the members were appointed by the provincial governments as part of a collusion between the political parties under the 18th constitutional amendment, adding they appreciate that the CEC already started implementing the report of the Judicial Commission.
During the meeting with CEC, Imran Khan requested the CEC to hold upcoming by-polls in NA-122 and NA-154 under the supervision of Pakistan Army. The PTI chairman maintained that the government is trying to influence the upcoming local government elections and by-polls through development funds and the Chief Election Commissioner assured him that he would take action if any evidence of development funds issuance was provided to him. Imran said he also requested the chief election commissioner to let the judges of election tribunals work as long as they were hearing pending the cases.