Dr Firdous asks ECP to investigate funding of all political parties

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Sunday urged Election Commission of Pakistan to investigate the funding of all the political parties instead of singling out one party.

Speaking at a press conference to share details of the meeting of core committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), she said the opposition was occupying television screens to propagate a baseless and false propaganda, exaggeration and conjecture about the case of funding of PTI before the Election Commission.

She told that the core committee had expressed its apprehensions and decided to bring facts before masses through media as opposition was trying to mislead people.

The legal team of the party would present facts about the party’s case to the Election Commission and would act to curb disinformation and fake news.

PTI was the pioneer in generating funds from public and it spearheaded the electoral and political reforms in political system, she continued.

She said the Pakistani diaspora believed in the credibility of PTI and considered it saviour of Pakistan and supported it while observing laws related to funding.

“If Pakistani companies and diaspora support the party it cannot be called foreign funding,” she added.

Firdous said PTI had no objection to go through the legal process of the Election Commission which would no doubt ensure its credibility, dignity and rule of law and justice.

She stressed that there were serious allegations against other parties and Election Commission should hold hearings. The commission should carry out audit of the political parties, she added.

The special assistant said it was priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure independence of Election Commission and strengthen it as an institution.

The opposition was wailing that last election was rigged and the Election Commission did not hold the polls in a free and fair manner but at the same time it went to the commission asking for daily hearing of the PTI funding case, she noted.

Dr Firdous said people come and go but institutions were here to stay and nobody should act in a hurry, adding why the opposition was in a hurry to get a decision against a political party.

She said accountability of all should be held and Election Commission would certainly act according to law and constitution.

Dr Firdous said the core committee chaired by the prime minister strongly condemned the unfortunate incident in Norway.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had sent a message to the world that the narrative of Islamophobia was a danger to the world peace.

Any provocation that hurt the feelings of more than a billion Muslims would cause religious extremism and undermine interfaith harmony, she opined.

She said the core committee unanimously decided to immediately bring the provocative act to the notice of European Union and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which would meet in Jeddah from Monday.

People and government of Pakistan through its Foreign Office would move a resolution carrying recommendations, at the forums of EU and OIC against the act that hurt the feelings of Muslims, she told.

Dr Firdous said the core committee lauded the prime minister for his untiring efforts to improve the economy.

She went on to say that the government through its management of the economy brought down deficits of budget and current account, besides reducing circular debt.

The committee members expressed determination to bring the benefits of the improving economy to the people and decided that the provinces would form a strategy to overcome the challenges of inflation and unemployment.

She said the prime minister had set direction of the economy right and now the government was focused on wealth creation, ease of doing business, industrialization and restructuring and reform of institutions. The committee discussed short and long term policies and programmes for public welfare.

The party leaders deliberated on the reasons for price hikes and decided to keep the public informed about the relief measures through an effective media strategy. During the meeting, priorities were set for ensuring good governance and better performance through a comprehensive plan.

Dr Firdous said opposition had nothing to sell to the public as it had failed to find any scandal of the government and was only attempting to taint the clean image of Imran Khan.

She said the committee condemned the thieves and looters who were targeting the personality of Imran Khan to undermine his successes, hide their own theft and distract people from the cases against them.

People were looking at what the opposition was doing, Dr Firdous said, adding opposition was targeting the government and doing character assassination of PM Imran Khan.

She informed that the PM would go to the people to highlight the achievements and mega projects of the government.

She said PTI was the only party which held intra-party elections, promoted democratic norms and values, freedom of speech and encouraged grassroots democracy so that the common man had more role in decision making.

The PM had instructed for immediate re-organization of the party, for which a committee of elders was being formed which would forward recommendations to him for strengthening the party.

She said the prime minister paid attention to the health of Nawaz Sharif, who was facilitated by the government and courts according to recommendations of doctors.

She expressed surprise that nobody saw Nawaz Sharif getting treatment on a hospital bed.

She said people wanted to know whether Pakistan did not have the facilities to diagnose the disease of Nawaz Sharif.

People had the right to know about the diagnosis and health condition of Nawaz Sharif so that their questions should be answered, she added. “Till the final diagnosis of Nawaz Sharif, there would be conjectures from people. As a political adversary we want Nawaz Sharif to come back to his country.”