The Election Commission’s emphasis on 30-day scrutiny period for pre-poll clearance of the candidates is the result of Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s pressure. PAT welcomes and supports the ECP’s initiative for fixation of 30-days to conduct scrutiny of the candidates and demands that this should be implemented.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi, President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, expressed these views while addressing the important meeting of the party’s Central Working Council in Lahore today. Bashrat Jaspal, Khurram Nawaz Gundapur, Justice (r ) Javed Nawaz, and Fayyaz Warriach were also present on the occasion.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that though PAT had reservations on the composition and legal status of the ECP, yet it extended full support to the Commission to get Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution implemented in letter and spirit and bar the tax evaders, defaulters and corrupt elements from entering the assemblies through elections.

Expressing his surprise, Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that both parties of the status quo were out to criticize the ECP, which they established through their nexus.

PAT President said that it was necessary that the scrutiny of candidates was conducted thoroughly by a joint committee of NAB, Federal Board of Revenue, State Bank of Pakistan, NADRA, FIA and other relevant organizations. He said that the elections held without following Articles 62, 63 and 218 would be purposeless.

He said that those who ridiculed and violated law would have to be put out of electoral race. He said that PAT condemned the Punjab government’s advertisement campaign of worth billions of rupees from the exchequer. He said that the Election Commission should take notice of pre-poll rigging and fulfill its responsibilities in this regard.