ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Saturday declared Maryam Nawaz’s press conference as self-contradictory and said that she did not understand the dynamics of elections.
In a statement, the minister said that on one hand, she was praising the Election Commission of Pakistan by saying that local administration was missing in action yet on the other hand, she was crying for rigging.
“How can the rigging be managed without ECP or local administration and police support,” he questioned.
He said either she was too naive and did not understand the dynamics of elections or she was living up to her reputation to lie and cry foul come what may.
Shibli Faraz said she had made a mockery of herself in media because of her claim to fame statement about her assets in Pakistan and abroad and forgery of font by tempering the affidavit in Supreme Court.
She cannot have both ways that other elections which were won by PML-N in both provinces under the administration control of PTI government.
“This duality of purpose won’t serve.”
He said that these seats were considered safe as PML-N seats and the worrisome point for Maryam was that they lost their big margins of winning and the PTI candidate in Daska had won as per reports.
The minister said that bullying, threatening and violence were the hallmarks of the PML- N.He said that PTI loss in Nowshera was bad but not due to loss of popularity but because of the loss of loyalty. He said that action has been taken and the people responsible have been punished for selling their souls.
He said that today the institutions are free and ECP statement is manifestation of this fact and no such examples can be given from the past.
Shibli said hearing of the issue would be held at ECP on coming Tuesday. He said that ECP was independent institution and all should respect its decision.
Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz on Saturday in the Senate urged the opposition to support PTI’s move of open voting in the Senate election to end the use of money, violence and blackmailing in politics once for all.
Speaking in the house on a motion to discuss the ‘controversial’ Presidential ordinance seeking open voting for the upcoming Senate polls, the minister said that rule of law could not be ensured until elimination of corruption and horse-trading in the voting process. This is the reason that the PTI government wanted to ensure transparency in the Senate election, he added.
He said that horse-trading and floor-crossing remained mandatory parts of discussions regarding the Senate election in the past and they would have to see that how they could restore the sanctity of the upper house of parliament in the given situation. “The real thing is to find the solution how this practice of use of money could be curbed from this Senate election that remained controversial in the past.”
Senator Faraz said it was their responsibility to end the culture of use of money in politics through legislation. “The strength of democracy lies in the parliament.”
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has always voiced against prevalent corrupting in the country and has struggled to end this menace once for all. He said that those laws who didn’t reflect their ground realities should be amended.
The information minister further said that opposition – PML-N and PPP, had agreed while signing the Charter of Democracy (CoD) to hold transparent elections in the country. Both the parties ruled the country for last ten years, but failed to fulfil this promise made with the nation, he said. “Either it (CoD) was an agreement to share the power only,” he questioned and added that they must implement this agreement.
He said that this has to be seen whether PTI’s effort to hold the Senate election through open voting was morally right. The laws are not legislated in isolation, he said adding that a voice should come from the parliament to end corruption from the country. “We are standing on across road of history and the issue is whether we have to promote politic of money or merit.”
Senator Faraz told the house that the government practically wanted to contribute to end the culture of corruption. He said that those get elected to parliament with the use of huge money always give preference to their own benefits over national interests. “The country cannot make progress in this situation,” he said that those brought culture of violence money, and blackmailing in politics were wrong and referred to by-polls held in district Sialkot earlier this week. “It is a unique opportunity to work for the betterment of the society.”
Winding up the debate, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to ensure transparency and rule of law in the country. He said that justice and accountability were the basic slogans of the ruling party
He said opposition leaders should support the government initiative to hold transparent election. He advised the opposition not to oppose the proposal just because it was initiated by PM Khan
He said that that politicians should make their decision themselves and move forwards to get pass a constitutional amendment to end the menace of floor-crossing.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
