ECP to review removal of ‘biased’ cabinet members ahead of elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is scheduled to review a petition next week that seeks the removal of allegedly “biased” members of the federal cabinet to ensure the conduct of neutral and transparent general elections.

According to Dawn.com, Advocate Syed Azizud Din Kaka Khel submitted the petition, which calls for the ousting of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and several other cabinet members. The ECP is set to hear the petition on October 10.

According to reports, the plea specifically targets Ahad Cheema, Fawad Hasan Fawad, and former principal secretary to the Prime Minister Syed Toqeer Hussain, with the argument that their presence in the caretaker government jeopardises the transparency of elections.

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The petition reads, “If the government desires a transparent election, these individuals should be relieved of their positions.”

Additionally, on the same date, the ECP will entertain multiple petitions against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its chairman. One of these petitions, submitted by Khalid Mehmood, seeks the removal of PTI chief’s name as the party chairman/head of PTI from the ECP’s records.

Meanwhile, Mehmood’s second petition requests the electoral body to take necessary action against PTI, alleging that it continues to receive prohibited funds from foreign entities.

Furthermore, Muhammad Awn Saqlain has also filed a petition against the same party, which is currently listed for preliminary hearing. Saqlain has invoked Section 215 (4) of the Elections Act, 2017, and all relevant provisions of the law to declare PTI ineligible to obtain an election symbol.

Lastly, another case scheduled for the same day concerns the reply to a show-cause notice and the personal appearance of Fawad Chaudhry in a contempt of the Election Commission case.