ISLAMABAD
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has said we can not be pressurized due to the protest outside Election Commission (EC) office and we will make all decisions on merit.
“Any protest outside EC office can not pressurize us. We will make all decisions on merit”, he said this during the hearing of foreign funding case pertaining to PTI Wednesday.
The case came up for hearing before a 3-member bench of EC presided over by CEC Wednesday.
Anwar Mansoor counsel for PTI and Ahmad Hassan counsel for the petitioner Akbar S Babar appeared in the EC.
PTI counsel while presenting Islamabad High Court order read out the decision before EC.
While requesting the EC to adjourn the case he said when the scrutiny committee report in respect of other political parties is received then please hear all of them at a time.
EC member from Balochistan said “ you say wait for security committee report. Where has been mentioned in this decision that wait for it.
Counsel for PTI said the other parties are being given date for three months while our case is being heard on day to day basis.
He contended application was filed against PML-N and PPP IN 2017. Commission should have sent this matter to scrutiny committee at that time.
The CEC remarked “ you please don’t be emotional. You are senior lawyer and we respect you.
Counsel for PTI said equal treatment should be meted out to all political parties. If you don’t bring others to this level then it is not correct. Our documents were given to petitioners while we are not being provided the documents of other parties.
CEC said we have issued order to provide documents. If high court notices us we will give reply therein.
Counsel for PTI said this case can not run unless all other cases come to this level. Give us level playing field.
CEC directed counsel for Akbar S Babar to give arguments.
The counsel for Akbar S Babar said PTI counsel has read order on his own will. PTI says Akbar S Babar has nothing to do with this case. If it is so then PTI too has no relevance with the security of other political parties. My case is pending hearing since November 2014 and this has not been decided so far.
Member Sindh said commission knows its mandate.
CEC while addressing the counsel for PTI said dates were given to you of your own choice. Funding cases of PTI, PML-N and PPP are pending hearing with us.
He said the court has not stopped the EC from going ahead in this case. EC will continue its proceedings in this case.
Counsel for PTI said the court has removed the restriction of giving decision in 30 days. I have to give lengthy arguments now.
He requested the EC to adjourn the hearing of the case after Eid ul Fitr.
Upon it CEC said 8 years have passed after the commencement of this case.
Counsel for PTI said I will try to complete my arguments within a week.
The counsel for the petitioner Akbar S Babar raised the objection over plea seeking adjournment of the case till Eid.
The CEC said let the EC do its job. We are hearing him and we hear you too. Where you have waited for 7 to 8 years then one or two weeks more make no difference.
The EC adjourned the hearing of the case till May 10.
