Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that if the government tries to force the elections through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), the party would be left with no option but to follow the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) way of protesting.
Sanaullah, in a Geo News Programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ stated that the other way to protest is in and outside of Parliament.
ابھی تک اپوزیشن جلسوں اور پارلیمنٹ کے ذریعےاحتجاج کررہی ہے۔ اگر حکومت حد سے گزری اور زبردستی الیکٹرانک ووٹنگ مشین سے الیکشن کرائے تو اپوزیشن ٹی ایل پی ماڈل اپنائے گی۔ پھر ہر الیکشن اور پولنگ اسٹیشن پر وہ کچھ ہوگا جس کا حکومت کو اندازہ نہیں ہے۔ رانا ثناء
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) December 1, 2021
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He said, “The current government does not even have an idea of the dynamics of the polling stations and if EVMs were used, the 2023 elections would turn controversial even before they are held.”
Shahzeb asked Rana that the Opposition can go to court over the EVM issue. To which he replied, “We will go to court. But if nothing happens, we won’t let this election happen at any cost.”
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said it is vital for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold all upcoming by-elections using EVMs. In case the ECP fails to do so, the government will not be able to release funds under the law.