Islamabad
\nThe Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said Monday that all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), deserved a level-playing field as the electioneering ahead of the February 8 polls faces gags.
\n\u201cThe election atmosphere is being spoiled […] free and fair elections should be held, and all parties should be given a level playing field,\u201d the commission\u2019s members said during a press conference in Islamabad.
\nThe PTI has been voicing strong reservations against the \u201cstate machinery\u201d as major of its bigwigs \u2014 founder Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi \u2014 had their nomination papers for the February 8 elections rejected \u2014 and the party\u2019s iconic \u201cbat\u201d symbol also could also be taken away.
\nThe PTI founder, who stepped down as the party chairman last year due to a conviction in a corruption case, is also behind bars and his release seems uncertain as he is being arrested in cases back-to-back, which could prove fatal for PTI as Khan is the party\u2019s voter driving force.
\nIn the presser, HRCP Co-char Munizae Jahangir said one political party \u2014 an apparent reference to the PTI \u2014 was facing different treatment compared to other parties.
\n\u201cThe reason behind holding elections it to allow people to inform their representatives about their problems. If the voter wants to vote a specific person, it is their due right,\u201d Jahangir, who is also a senior journalist said.
\nThe HRCP co-chair noted that \u201ca party\u201d was being dismantled and told the state \u201cit was not good to strike deals with people\u201d.
\n\u201cParty workers are being arrested and are then holding press conferences under duress,\u201d she said in a reference to scores of PTI workers being behind bars and facing cases of riots and violence, especially after May 9, when party members targeted state installations.
\nWith the turbulent road to the polls, the HRCP\u2019s senior official said it was crucial for the elections to be free, fair, and transparent to ensure that Pakistan moves in the direction of democratic progress.
\nIn a press handout, the HRCP said there was a blatant manipulation of the electoral landscape in which one political party among others has been singled out for systematic dismemberment.
\n\u201cWhile HRCP does not condone violence in any form perpetrated by anyone, the state\u2019s response has been disproportionate and unlawful,\u201d the human rights watchdog said.
\n\u201cThis has assumed a familiar pattern, including arrests of party workers and supporters, lack of transparency concerning the charges involved, crackdowns on party workers\u2019 right to peaceful assembly, enforced disappearances, obvious signs of pressure on party leaders to resign or exit politics altogether and, most recently, the large-scale rejection of candidates\u2019 nomination papers.\u201d
\nVarious other parties have also been subjected to similar tactics to varying degrees, it said, adding that at this point, there is little evidence to show that the upcoming elections will be free, fair, or credible.
\nThe state\u2019s clampdown on dissent, the HRCP said, whether on freedom of opinion, expression, or assembly, has further constricted civic spaces in the country at a time when people must be allowed to express their will freely ahead of a national election.
\n\u201cHRCP strongly believes that these concerns must be tackled as a matter of priority by an elected government that comes to power in a transparent manner, functions independently of external pressure, and commits to protecting and upholding the rights of all citizens and residents.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said Monday that all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), deserved a level-playing field as the electioneering ahead of the February 8 polls faces gags. \u201cThe election atmosphere is being spoiled […] free and fair elections should be held, and all parties should be given a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-378097","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n