Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PTI leader Omar Ayub has raised concerns about the delay in appointing a new Chief  Election Commissioner (CEC) following the completion of Sikandar Sultan Raja's term. Speaking to the media at the Peshawar High Court, Ayub suggested that the outgoing CEC should resign from his post, stating that if he had any sense of shame  and modesty, he would have already stepped down.The PTI leader emphasized that consultations on selecting a new CEC are ongoing, with a decision expected in the coming days.

He also mentioned that despite the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate having written letters regarding the matter, there has been no response so far.  Ayub speculated that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif might be waiting for some external permission before taking action. In addition, Ayub spoke highly of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, calling him a brave leader, and praised Junaid Akbar for his grassroots involvement in  the party, asserting that PTI remains united. He dismissed claims of internal divisions within the party, calling them nothing more than "dreams" from outside critics.

Ayub also clarified that the party had decided to boycott the upcoming talks scheduled for January 28, citing the failure to form commissions following the May 9 and November 26 events as the primary reason for the boycott. Addressing his legal troubles, Ayub revealed that he had appeared in court to seek bail, in relation to several cases filed against him following the November 26 protests. He expressed confusion over the charges, particularly questioning how it would be possible for him to travel to multiple cities in a single day, given the allegations made against him.

Finally, Ayub criticized the current state of democracy in Pakistan, claiming that there is a significant lack of it at present. He also referenced concerns raised by judges about the 26th amendment and voiced his apprehension about amendments to the PECA (Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act), which he believes are aimed at curbing press freedom and limiting journalistic expression. The comments underscore the ongoing political tensions in the country, with PTI continuing to challenge the government's handling of key issues like election oversight and media freedom.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)