ISLAMABAD: The central ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday moved another application in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), seeking urgent hearing of the case against former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in connection with leaked video controversy involving his son. Jointly moved by PTI MNAs Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari and Kanwal Shauzab, the petition terms the matter as “gravest nature finding no parallel historically.”
The petition reads, “A similar petition to bring the crucial facts to the notice of this Commission was filed—on very evening the video tapes surfaced (i.e. a day before the Senate election day) — Since the matter is of gravest nature finding no parallel historically (where a potential senator aspiring to hold the high seat of chairman, Senate, is indulged in prima facie corrupt practices), requires an immediate indulgence of this Commission. The Commission’s proactive indulgence was seen recently in the case of National Assembly election challenge of NA-75 (Daska) and petitioners are hopeful that this learned Commission will not cause or allow any lagging in the titled matter.
It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that the titled matter, being extremely important having far fetched effect on the whole country, be taken up on urgent basis, in the interest of justice and equity.”
The PTI MNAs also moved a related application on Saturday.
Talking to the media along with the two female PTI MNAs outside the ECP on Monday, Farrukh Habib said, “It is proved that there was unprecedented sale and purchase of votes in Senate elections. The ECP should not wait for March 11 to hold its hearing on such a crucial matter. Ali Haider Gilani’s video in which he was seen purchasing votes for his father surfaced on March 2. Six days have been passed but ECP has done nothing.” He asked the commission to hear the matter urgently.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Yousuf Raza Gilani handed an unexpected defeat to Finance Minister Shaikh despite PTI-led ruling coalition has majority in National Assembly which was going to elect the senators on two Islamabad seats.
A night before the Senate elections, a video of Gilani’s son was widely circulated in which he was seen purportedly buying votes in favour of his father.
In his hard-hitting address to the nation televised live on Thursday, prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at ECP in the backdrop of alleged foul play on Senate’s general seat from Islamabad in March 3 elections.
The PM questioned the ECP why it had not printed barcode on 1,500 ballot papers to ensure fair polls. “You (ECP) have harmed the morality of country…this country was to become an example for others. What message you (ECP) have given to our youth that how much money was used in the election and how our politics has been corrupted,” he remarked.
He said the ECP could have conducted fair elections as it had all the required resources to do so.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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