Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) actions during the recent elections amounted to treason and called for the chief election commissioner's trial under Article 6.
The senator made these comments on the floor of the Upper House of parliament during a session on Tuesday, presided over by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.
The Senate was holding a debate on the alleged irregularities in the recently held elections after an adjournment motion was submitted on the situation arising after the polls.
In a passionate speech, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed declared the recent elections "fake" and accused multiple institutions, including the election commission, the government, and judiciary, of depriving the people of their right to fair representation.
Senator Mushtaq demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC), alleging that the electoral process was marred by widespread rigging and lacked transparency. "The CEC should apologise to the nation for the worst rigging in history," he remarked.
The JI leader also called for accountability, stating that the election commission's actions amounted to treason and suggested that Article 6 should be invoked against the CEC. He said those who rigged the elections were traitors and were the entire country's criminals.
Furthermore, Senator Mushtaq also questioned what sort of election it was that pushed the nation into crises, alleging that "the bullet kidnapped the ballot". He also emphasised that it was not acceptable that a few government officials sitting behind closed doors took decisions about the nation.
He also criticized the exorbitant cost of elections, demanding that the nation's poor taxpayers' Rs500 million spent on the polls be returned. He further claimed that the expense on election for one provincial assembly seat was Rs25 million.
The senator condemned the constantly escalating prices of essential utilities such as electricity and gas, adding that the revenue generated through this increase 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, emphasizing the need for the restoration of 'X' that had been shut down for three days. He pointed to 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.
Senator Mushtaq's impassioned address underscored the deep-seated concerns surrounding the electoral process and its implications for democratic principles in Pakistan. As discussions continue, stakeholders remain vigilant in addressing the grievances and ensuring transparency and accountability in future elections.
