People will not accept an ECP decision that is not on merit: Rana Sanaullah

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 06 Jan 2023

Rawalpindi: Ahead of a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on January 19, Rana Sanaullah, President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab, said that the people will not accept a verdict on the foreign funding case that is not on merit.

“We want not just a verdict but also that all the details about where the money came from and where it was spent should be shared with the public. People will not accept a decision that is not on merit. This is no longer a hidden matter,” he stated while talking to the media in Rawalpindi.

Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will hold a protest outside the ECP on January 19, protesting the monitoring body’s delay in giving a verdict on the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) foreign funding case. Akber S. Babar, ex-founding member of the party, has alleged in the case that PTI received foreign funds in contradiction to ECP laws.

“There are 23 accounts which received money from Israel and India; while anti-Pakistan forces also added funds to PTI accounts. The case is pending in EC. Using different excuses, the selected is being taken ahead on lease. No decision is being taken,” Rana Sanaullah said, while giving details of PML-N’s preparations for the protest.

“We will have a peaceful protest as per our constitutional and legal rights. EC failed in conducting 2018 election. We are being asked why didn’t we file petitions, but if we had any hope for justice we would have filed petitions,” he stated, adding that ECP’s job is not just limited to counting votes. “Who doesn’t know a King’s party was formed for the selected with people from other parties coerced into joining. EC must be fair so that elections are free and fair. 2021 will be a year of general elections,” he predicted.

Lashing out at the government, Rana Sanaullah said that it was formed on lies and propaganda but unfortunately it is now being run on propaganda too.

“There is no policy, no plan. They have started no projects, done no legislation. Law and order has collapsed across the country. People getting no relief from anywhere,” he remarked, adding that the government cannot be taken any further by its benefactors.

“We are requesting them, as yet, that they look at the people of the country. Everyone is swearing at the government. If they withdraw, the government will not last eight days. They could not even pass budget on their own last year,” he observed.

Talking about Shehzad Akbar, Special Advisor to Prime Minister, who has sent a legal notice to PML-N leader Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah joked that she has never given them Rs. 5, “how will she give you Rs. 50 crore.” The PML-N leader said that Maryam Aurangzeb will not apologize to Shehzad Akbar. “It is time for you to offer apologies to the people. But you will not be pardoned because your crime is unforgivable,” he declared.

He ended the press talk by appealing to the general public to attend the protest on January 19. “We appeal to the people who are sitting in their shops and at their homes that swearing at government from there will not do anymore. You should come to ECP on January 19 at 2:00 and register your presence,” he said.