ECP decries PM’s ‘aliens’ remark as unconstitutional

ISLAMABAD: Brushing aside Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s recent statement that the upcoming general elections would be conducted by the ‘aliens’ and not the caretaker government, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday said the statement is against the spirit of the country’s Constitution and its mandate. 

A spokesperson for the ECP said the electoral body is completely prepared to hold the forthcoming general elections.

He said the Commission is outright independent in discharge of its legal and constitutional responsibilities. “The ECP denies the statement that the upcoming general elections would be conducted by the ‘aliens’,” he added.

Two days after former premier Nawaz Sharif slammed ‘unknown forces’ for attempting to suppress his party, the sitting prime minister has also jumped the bandwagon, saying the upcoming general elections would be conducted by the ‘aliens

’ and not the caretaker government.

His remarks bear complete resemblance to the statement Mr Sharif made yesterday in which he said ‘aliens’ [Khalia Makhlooq] are busy to install Parliament of their own choice in the coming elections.

In an informal chat with journalists during a reception hosted by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for members of the National Assembly, Mr. Abbasi said “elections will be held by aliens, but even then we [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] will participate in it.”

The back-to-back statements from top PML-N leaders indicted that the ruling party had some strong reservations over transparency of the general elections due to be held in July this year.