ISLAMABAD: A tug of war between the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf deepened on Thursday when Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza refused to meet PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry.

Following the refusal of a one-on-one meeting, Mr Chaudhry levelled serious allegations against the CEC, saying the latter was using the official vehicle which was above his entitlement.

According to a spokesman for the ECP, Fawwad Chaudhry wanted to meet the CEC who turned down the request by saying that since a case against PTI chairman Imran Khan was being heard by the commission, it would not be appropriate for him to meet the party’s spokesman alone.

It is not for the first time that the ECP has come under attack. The PTI chief has criticised the commission several times in the past and even accused it of being biased and partial.

The ECP spokesman said the CEC wanted to fulfil norms of justice and could meet Fawwad Chaudhry provided PTI’s opponents in the case also joined the meeting.

He said that following the CEC’s refusal, the PTI leader issued a humiliating statement against Justice Raza about his official vehicle. He warned Mr Chaudhry to avoid issuing such statements against a constitutional institution, otherwise action could be taken against him under the law.

“The PTI spokesman has levelled a baseless allegation against the CEC regarding his official vehicle which was meant to harm constitutional sanctity of the institution,” he added.

The ECP spokesman said the CEC did not meet the lawyer of any party whose case was tried in the commission. “The ECP reiterates that it will never come under pressure or be blackmailed by any political party or individual who levelled baseless allegations against it,” he added.

Later talking to Dawn, Fawwad Chaudhry said he did not want to meet the CEC regarding Imran Khan’s case but to have a briefing on the recently-conducted census and a cabinet decision made on Wednesday about delimitation of constituencies.

He, however, claimed that the CEC was using 3000cc Toyota Land Cruiser against his official entitlement of 1800cc car. The PTI spokesman said the CEC had issued arrest warrants for Imran Khan in the foreign funding case without giving a detailed judgement of the case.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017