LAHORE: PPP-Workers’ leader Naheed Khan pledged on Friday to continue their struggle for setting up an independent and administratively powerful election commission in consultation with political parties.

Addressing a gathering of the party workers at Karim Park, in NA-120 area, adviser to slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, Ms Khan alleged the incumbent Election Commission of Pakistan had failed to conduct fair and transparent by-polls.

She said they would launch a systemic and well-planned move against the electoral watchdog so that a powerful entity free from the clutches of political ruling parties would be setup. “Only an unbiased Election Commission can conduct transparent and fair upcoming general elections which are going to be held in 2018,” she said.

PPP-W President Dr Safdar Abbasi, Sardar Hur Bakhari, Rai Qaisar, Abn-i-Rizvi, Aamna Zaidi, Saleem Khan and candidate for NA-120 Sajida Mir were also present.

Ms Khan said they had raised the issue of 29,000 votes, yet to be verified, with the ECP but in vain raising serious questions on the performance of the commission.

Dr Abbasi said those how could they bring about positive changes to layman’s life in one year who could not change their conditions in three decades.

He said the people of this constituency should think before casting their votes whether they wanted a bright future for their young generations or they wanted to come into power the same elite political class which was usurping their rights.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2017