ISLAMABAD: The Peoples Party will boycott the coming by-polls in Lahore and Lodhran if members of the Election Commission (ECP) do not quit office.

The party also said that it was ready to make seat adjustment with all parties, except the PML-N, in local bodies’ elections being held in Punjab in October.

The PPP made the disclosure during a media briefing at Zardari House on Saturday. Sherry Rehman, the party’s vice president, Secretary General Latif Khosa and Manzoor Wattoo, who heads its Punjab chapter, took part in the briefing.

The announcement from the PPP leaders came at a time when the PTI Chairman Imran Khan was giving a call to his workers in Lahore to reach Islamabad on October 4 for a sit-in to press for the resignation of ECP members.

“We will field our candidates conditionally. We will withdraw our candidates, if the four members of the ECP do not resign by that time,” declared Manzoor Wattoo.

Mr Wattoo also announced that on the pressure of party workers and activists, the PPP leadership had decided to end its policy of reconciliation. “Though, the policy of reconciliation benefited the country and democracy, it has also caused huge damage to the party,” he said.

Sherry Rehman reminded that the party, soon after the polls, had dubbed 2013 general elections as “the elections of the ROs (returning officers)”. She said the party accepted the results for the sake of “continuation of democratic set-up.”

Ms Rehman said it would be difficult to hold elections at national level under the present ECP setup.

It will be in nation’s interests, if the ECP members step down, she said adding the PPP does not want to opt for street agitation.

Former Punjab governor Latif Khosa alleged that the ECP has failed in performing its constitutional duty under Article 218 of the Constitution which was evident from the recent report of the poll inquiry commission and the decisions of the election tribunals.

Mr Khosa was of the view that the ECP members should have resigned when then chief election commissioner, retired Justice Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim had submitted his resignation after the political parties held the ECP responsible for rigging and mismanagement in the 2013 elections.

He said the PPP did not believe in the boycott of elections, but if all these four members of the ECP did not resign, they would have no option but to withdraw their candidates.

Replying to a question, the PPP leaders ruled out the possibility of boycotting the local government elections in any case. Mr Khosa said the local government polls would be held under the provincial act and since it was the responsibility of the provincial government, the PPP would take part in them.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continued to hold meetings with party representatives and office-bearers for sixth consecutive day.

On Saturday, he met representatives of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO) and the People’s Students Federation (PSF).

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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