Country to move towards 'difficult situation' if ECP fails to do justice during Punjab by-elections: Asad

Islamabad: Former federal minister and PTI Secretary General Asad Umar cautioned on Friday the country would move towards a "difficult situation" if the public thought the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was "not doing justice or becoming a silent spectator regarding upcoming by-elections".

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital in connection with the by-elections, he said the PTI had alleged that the Punjab government was making moves to "interfere" and "change" the results of the upcoming by-polls.

Umar asked party workers to fully prepare for the upcoming elections as the sitting government could allegedly change voters’ lists and use state machinery to benefit ex-PTI candidates the ruling parties are backing.

"Whatever they do, the PTI will win with a big majority on July 17. Once Punjab goes out of their (the government's) hands, what will the imported prime minister do in Islamabad? We are heading towards new elections."

The PTI leader also criticised the electoral watchdog and "advised" it to allot itself an election symbol as well since it was "behaving like a political party".

Umar went on to say claim that it was clear that PTI was "leading prominently" in all constituencies they had visited, as he cited polls.

"And it is not surprising, especially with the extraordinary increase in Imran Khan's popularity in the last few months," he added. "And the most welcome aspect is that all the different societal sectors, from the lowest-earning ones to the most educated, we are seeing the nation uniting."

He said it was evident and the "fake" government could also see that.

"Elections will be held on the 17th and then chief minister's election will be held on 22, after which this story will be concluded," Umar said. "But they are not ready to go away so easily."

He lamented the manner in which the law and the Constitution were "being violated" and the people were being "harassed and terrorised".

The former minister claimed that "direct calls" were being made from assistant commissioners and district commissioners to officials in Punjab. "Our people are being threatened and FIRs registered," he added.

"The most dangerous thing is illegally registering votes. We have filed a petition. Individual petitions have already been filed but ECP has not taken any action."

Umar added that the law "clearly says votes cannot be changed once election date is announced", but claimed that new votes had been registered in electoral rolls issued.

To a question, the PTI secretary-general said the party's fight was against injustice, undemocratic attitudes and foreign interference.

"It is not against one individual, it is an ideological battle," he emphasised.