Accusing the Chief Election Commissioner of treason, a Senator from the JI calls for invoking Article 6 against him due to his actions resembling betrayal
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of committing treason during the recent elections and has called for the chief election commissioner to be tried under Article 6.
These remarks were made by the senator during a session in the Upper House of parliament, chaired by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, where a debate on alleged irregularities in the elections was underway following the submission of an adjournment motion.
Senator Mushtaq passionately labeled the recent elections as “fake” and pointed fingers at several institutions, including the ECP, the government, and the judiciary, for denying people their right to fair representation.
He demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner, alleging widespread rigging and a lack of transparency in the electoral process. He insisted that the CEC should apologize to the nation for what he described as the worst rigging in history.
Furthermore, the JI leader called for accountability, asserting that the actions of the election commission constituted treason and proposing the invocation of Article 6 against the CEC. He labeled those involved in rigging as traitors and criminals against the entire nation.
Senator Mushtaq also questioned the nature of the elections, alleging that coercion overshadowed the electoral process. He criticized decisions made behind closed doors by a few government officials that affected the entire nation, emphasizing that such practices were unacceptable.
He also criticized the exorbitant cost of elections, demanding the return of Rs500 million spent on the polls from the nation’s taxpayers. He claimed that the expense for one provincial assembly seat alone amounted to Rs25 million.
Additionally, the senator condemned the increasing prices of essential utilities like electricity and gas, suggesting that revenue generated from these increases was being diverted to the election commission.
Senator Mushtaq also raised concerns about the suppression of digital rights and the closure of social media platforms during the elections, stressing the need for the restoration of digital access. He cited instances of electoral irregularities, including the defeat of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Karachi leader, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, in a constituency where protests erupted over alleged discrepancies.
His impassioned address highlighted deep concerns about the electoral process and its implications for democratic principles in Pakistan. As discussions continue, stakeholders remain committed to addressing grievances and ensuring transparency and accountability in future elections.