Islamabad: PTI Chief Imran Khan said that after surfacing of audio leaks allegedly featuring conversations between key figures in coalition government, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja should resign from his post. Addressing a gathering at Government College University (GCU) here, Imran said audio leaks had made it apparent that CEC Raja was a “servant of Sharif household”.

In audio leaks, “Nawaz is telling him CEC who should be disqualified and when to hold elections,” former premier said.

After audio leaks, CEC should resign if he has even an ounce of shame, he said. “But he doesn’t have any shame, so we will have to make him resign.” Audio recordings of purported conversations between key government figures including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of federal cabinet discussing governance matters privately surfaced over weekend, prompting concerns over security of Prime Minister’s Office.

Imran also alleged that CEC had blocked use of electronic voting machines on instructions of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

Turning his guns on Maryam, the PTI chief referred to one of the audio recordings purportedly featuring a conversation between PM Shehbaz and an unidentified official about possibility of facilitating import of Indian machinery for a power project that was linked to PML-N Vice President’s son-in-law.

Lambasting PML-N, particularly PM Shehbaz, Imran said that his government had ended trade ties with India after New Delhi had revoked occupied Kashmir’s special autonomy in August 2019.

“There are still no ties, but Maryam’s son-in-law intends to procure machinery from India,” Imran added. He claimed that PM Shehbaz had also assured Maryam’s son-in-law that he would not face any obstacles in constructing a grid station worth Rs 700 million at one of his housing societies.He continued that in coming days, there would be more “episodes” in audio leaks saga. “I am hearing that recording will surface where Maryam will tell abba jee [Nawaz] that election commission has said they will disqualify Imran Khan in Toshakhana case and that there is no need to worry,” he said. “This is state of election commission.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 27 2022

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