PTI staging protests outside ECP offices today

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the hearing on PTI’s foreign funding case, the PTI is staging countrywide protests today (Tuesday) outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) district offices against the “biased attitude” of the chief election commissioner (CEC).

There is a degree of urgency and concern in the PTI ranks, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently directed the electoral body to decide the longest-ever — PTI foreign funding — case pending before it within 30 days.

According to Islamabad police, section 144 is in force in the Red Zone and political parties have been urged not to protest there

An Islamabad police spokesperson said that protests can be staged at the press club of F9 park as demonstrations in Red Zone will not be allowed.

The spokesperson further stated that nobody will be allowed to break laws, adding that anti-riot force will be deployed inside and outside the red zone.

CEC writes letter to Islamabad administration

The chief election commissioner has also written a letter to the Islamabad administration and police, demanding proper arrangements for the security of the ECP office.

Meanwhile, sources told that the Islamabad police has also decided to seal the roads leading to Red Zone, only Margalla Road will remain open for entry and all other entrances will be sealed with containers and barbed wires.

Sources further said that 750 personnel will be deployed for the security of the ECP; moreover, rangers will also be in charge of the security.

Moreover, water canon staffers have already been alerted, the source added.

ECP says no notice of PTI MNAs resignation received

Meanwhile, the ECP said it had not yet received any notification of resignation by any member of the National Assembly (MNA).

A day earlier, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja presided over a meeting at the ECP Secretariat, and besides two members of the commission, the secretary and other senior officers also attended. Soon after the PTI government was sent packing, the party had sent the resignations of 123 MNAs to the National Assembly speaker who is yet to decide their fate.

The meeting considered the letter written by PTI Chairman Imran Khan to the ECP in which he had said that the party had resigned from all seats in the National Assembly and there was no representation of it in the assembly. “A case against the dissidents has been sent to the ECP under Article 63A of the Constitution,” the letter added.

 

However, the ECP contended that according to the law, it had not received any notification of resignation of any member from the speaker. “Action will be taken according to the law upon receipt of the case,” it added.

Moreover, the ECP has issued notices to all MNAs and MPAs against whom the declaration under Article 63A has been received by the speakers of National and Provincial Assemblies. Notices have been issued to the MNAs for April 28.