TAXILA: The public will not accept election results under the supervision of the current chief election commissioner, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab President Shafqat Mehmood said on Tuesday.

He was talking to reporters at the District Council Ground. He visited the spot to review arrangements ahead of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s visit scheduled for Thursday (tomorrow).

Former special assistant to the prime minister Malik Amin Aslam, Member of National Assembly (MNA) retired Maj Tahir Sadiq, former minister for social welfare Syed Yawar Boukhari, retired Col Anwar Khan, member Punjab Assembly Jamshaid Altaf and Qazi Ahmed Akbar were also present on the occasion.

Mr Mehmood alleged that the incumbent CEC was siding with the PML-N therefore holding of free and fair elections was not possible in the country until a new election has been appointed, adding that the PTI leadership is ready to consult with the present government for election reforms.

He said the government had failed to deliver any results during the last three months and people had rejected it.

He claimed that the “so-called experienced” team of PML-N has unleashed a wave of inflation after surrendering to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Since the last three years, he said, the PML-N leadership had been demanding elections and now they are making excuses to conduct free and fair elections.

All the other 14 political parties are in fear due to the massive popularity of PTI across the country, he said, adding that the party launched a mobilisation campaign for an independence march.

Mr Mehmood condemned de-notification by the federal government of Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2022