File photo

LAHORE, Jan 6: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has urged the chief election commissioner (CEC) to ‘expose the elements bent upon delaying general election’.

“The CEC should also pinpoint the elements who are attempting to get the polls postponed,” party’s central leader Tariq Azim told the media here on Sunday.

He said the whole nation was feeling concerned after the statement by a responsible and upright person like CEC Fakhruddin G Ibrahim that some people were conspiring to get the elections delayed.

“The nation is with the CEC so that he could discharge his duty of holding a free, fair and transparent election in time, without any fear and irrespective of the influence of these conspirators.”

A former senator, Mr Azim said keeping in view Mr Ibrahim’s track record it was hoped that as the CEC he would not let anyone influence the polls. But, the people should also be informed that who these conspirators were, he stressed.

The PML-N leader also appealed to the CEC to take immediate notice of the ‘pre-poll rigging’ which he alleged was being orchestrated by the PPP-led ruling coalition.

Only weeks before the elections, the PPP had started appointing party loyalists on sensitive positions who could be used to influence the election results, he apprehended.

In addition to this, he said, the prime minister’s discretionary fund had also been increased to a whopping Rs37 billion by cutting finances meant for projects of national importance like Bhasha dam.

He alleged that even the PPP’s Eid-related event at Malikwal, Mandi Bahauddin district, was funded by taxpayers’ money.

He urged the CEC to take notice of such illegalities and save the exchequer from becoming PPP’s ‘electoral war chest’.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...