Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati has once again accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of bias in response to the notice issued to him by the commission following his statement that the body should be ‘set on fire’ for rigging elections.
How many notices has the ECP issued to Opposition leaders Maryam Nawaz and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he asked.
The minister expressed these views while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. He was flanked by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan.
The ECP had sent notices to Swati as well as Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry after their statements against the commission and its alleged role in ‘rigging elections’
On September 10, Azam Khan Swati, in a fit of anger, said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should be ‘set on fire’ because it always rigs polls. He issued these remarks during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Presided over by Senator Taj Haider, the meeting reviewed proposed amendments to the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021.
Prior to voting on the proposed amendments, Swati lashed out at the ECP, accusing it of taking bribes to rig elections.
“The ECP has no right to ruin democracy in the country,” he said, adding that the ECP was ‘making fun’ of the government. ECP officials present during the meeting walked out in protest after the minister’s statement.
