HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peo­ples Party information secretary Senator Maula Bux Chandio has condemned issuance of notices to party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari by the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly violating the relevant code of conduct during his rallies in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“[Bilawal’s] campaign has baffled rulers and that’s why tactics are being employed,” Mr Chandio claimed while speaking at a press conference at his residence here on Thursday.

He argued that such notices were usually issued to those holding government positions.

He said the ECP would have to prove its impartiality, and repeated PPP’s allegation that Prime Minister Imran Khan had started rigging in the GB elections by announcing that GB would be made a province and certain projects would be launched there. “This is political bribe, an illegal act and rigging,” he added.

He reminded the rulers that PPP had already warned of a march to Islamabad if the results of GB elections were changed.

Declaring the institutions of army and judiciary “pride of the nation”, the senior PPP leader claimed that the prime minister was making institutions controversial. “Masses have always been backing these institutions”, he said, and observed that posters showing the army chief with a political leader in Karachi tended to make him [army chief] controversial. The PM should rather uphold dignity of this institution, he said.

“The PM never discussed price hike,” he claimed, and noted that half the PTI government’s term had passed and one was unsure about completion of its remainder; PTI had not delivered anything.

Senator Chandio said what Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice president Maryam Nawaz had faced was not appreciated by any political party, and declared that “be it Maryam Nawaz or Faryal Talpur, they are daughters of the nation”.

He also condemned baton charge on farmers in Punjab.

Referring to the issue of islands’ development, he said it was an important issue for Sindh, where people set their petty difference aside when it came to survival of the province.

He noted that such things were witnessed in General Ayub Khan’s regime and were being witnessed now again. “The PTI government is giving financial NRO as well as concessions to seths”, and warned that this would make people take to the streets.

Mr Chandio said the institutions responsible for Pakistan’s integrity should restrain those who were setting wrong traditions in larger interest of everyone.

Senator Chandio was of the view that President Dr Arif Alvi should step down as he had lost moral authority to hold his position following Supreme Court’s judgement on presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2020