Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that apprehensions of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad regarding forces blocking the way of peaceful election in Pakistan are proving right.

“He is a senior bureaucrat who has held high posts. The caretaker government should give serious importance to his statements before the Senate Standing Committee and take immediate and effective steps for foiling the conspiracy of the anti-election elements so that elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere,” PMLQ President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said.

He said that it is the duty of the caretaker government to provide protection to all candidates, their supporters and voters.

In a statement on Monday, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that in recent days of electoral campaign, anti-Pakistan enemies have touched extremes of terrorism.

“No words are enough to condemn the way 200 persons including great patriotic Siraj Raeesani in Balochistan and Haroon Bilaur in Peshawar have been martyred and this is not only for the government and the ECP, but also requires a moment of thinking for the entire country. The ECP’s work is not only to monitor the election and that of the caretaker government to hold election but also to provide conducive peaceful atmosphere during electoral campaign and polling,” Shujaat Hussain said, adding that Siraj Raeesani was playing the role of a great and bold torch bearer of national solidarity.

“His statement on March 23 on the occasion of Pakistan Day was not being swallowed by the enemies of Pakistan and that is why he was targeted,” Hussain said, adding that such incidents should not re-occur.

Hussain also said that it is the duty of the caretaker government to maintain law and order.

“The people should also ensure that on July 25, they vote for such candidates over and above party differences who not only believe deep in their hearts in security, solidarity and national supremacy but also will do practical work for this,” he maintained.

Published in Daily Times, July 17^th 2018.