ISLAMABAD: The Election Comm­ission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to two federal ministers for their tirade against it and the chief election commissioner (CEC).

The notices to Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry and Railways Minister Azam Swati were issued during hearing of the case involving serious allegations against the ECP and the CEC.

A two-member bench comprising ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi heard the case.

It was the second show-cause notice issued to Mr Swati who appeared in person before the same bench a day earlier.

Advocate Mohammad Zubair told the bench that Mr Swati could not come due to blocked roads.

“We have also reached the Election Commission office with great difficulty,” he said.

The ECP said that show-cause notices were being issued to Mr Swati in today’s hearing too. A show-cause notice was also issued to Mr Chaudhry who neither turned up nor was represented by any counsel.

The hearing of the case was adjou­rned till Nov 16.

Nov 11 has already been fixed as the next date of hearing for another case of similar nature against Mr Swati.

Last month, the railways minister had levelled serious charges of poll rigging and receiving bribes against the Election Commission, and had said such institutions should be set ablaze. Continuing with the tirade he had also raised questions over the appointment of the chief election commissioner.

Mr Chaudhry had accused the ECP of becoming the opposition’s headquarters and the CEC of acting as their mouthpiece.

The slanderous remarks against the ECP and the CEC came days after the ECP raised objections over the bills seeking to amend the elections act, to provide for introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and internet voting system for overseas Pakistanis in the next general elections.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2021