The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday accepted the written apologies tendered by Railways Minister Azam Swati and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry for their caustic remarks against the electoral watchdog.
The apologies were accepted by a two-member ECP bench headed by Nisar Ahmed Durrani. Swati, along with Chaudhry, had launched a tirade against the ECP on September 10. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs held to discuss proposed amendments in the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021, Swati had accused the commission of “always” rigging polls and said that such institutions should be “set on fire”.
Chaudhry, meanwhile, had alleged that the ECP took bribes to rig polls. He said the commission was making fun of the government, and that it was not entitled to “ruin” democracy in the country. His comments had prompted ECP officials present in the meeting to walk out.
On October 27, the ECP issued a show-case notice to both the ministers for their remarks and allegations against it and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. Subsequently, the information minister had tendered an apology to the ECP in person on Nov 16, while Swati submitted his written apology to the electoral watchdog on Dec 3.
