Peshawar (Staff Reporter): Former provincial minister and PTI leader Taimur Saleem Jhagra strongly criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He accused the institution of selective accountability and negligence in handling Form-47 election cases.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Taimur Jhagra revealed that the ECP Secretary had recently written to the Anti-Corruption Department against him. He reminded reporters that he had earlier requested the Commission to halt proceedings in his case. According to him, the Commission ignored that request and moved forward without addressing the core issue of election irregularities.
“Twenty months have passed, but the ECP has not acted on Form-47,” Jhagra said. He noted that two presiding officers denied signing the disputed forms. At that point, the Commission suddenly became active. “What the ECP did in six hours, it failed to do in twenty months,” he added.
The PTI leader alleged that the ECP forwarded the case to the Anti-Corruption Department instead of conducting its own inquiry. He stressed that the presiding officers submitted sworn affidavits. Those affidavits confirmed the forms did not carry their signatures. Despite this critical evidence, the Commission ignored the matter and shifted responsibility elsewhere.
Referring to international oversight, Jhagra pointed out that the Commonwealth report on Pakistan’s elections is already public. The report highlights major shortcomings in the process. “If the ECP is truly impartial, it should investigate in light of that report and introduce reforms,” he demanded.
He also criticized internal issues within the Commission. He noted that the ECP Secretary went on leave citing health reasons. “Even on election day, after counting ended, the morning report shocked everyone. It raised further doubts about the Commission’s role,” he recalled.
Taimur Saleem Jhagra urged the ECP to act with transparency and fairness. He warned that selective actions harm the credibility of Pakistan’s electoral process. Such behavior weakens public trust in democracy and damages national stability. He emphasized that restoring confidence in elections is vital for democratic growth and the country’s future governance.
