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Islamabad, April 24, 2013 (PPI-OT): Spokesperson to the President, Senator Farhatullah Babar has urged the CEC to take note of the vilification campaign against the President and issue directions to all to desist from it in the interest of free and fair elections.
In a letter addressed to the CEC which he personally delivered in the office of ECP he said “The President is severely handicapped because out of deference to the Court observations he cannot react to these accusations by employing befitting political jargon”.
Direct personal criticism of the President during the campaign while the President was unable to respond to them is denying level playing field to the Party that is contesting elections using the slogans and images of Shaheed Bhuttos, the letter said.
Following is the text of the letter:
The Chief Election Commissioner,
Election Commission of Pakistan,
Islamabad.
Subject: Political vilification campaign against the President
Dear Chief Election Commissioner,
I wish to bring to your attention the vilification campaign set in motion by the leadership of some political parties particularly the PML-N against the person of President Asif Ali Zardari and its adverse impact on free and fair elections and the need to urgently redress the issue.
The President of Pakistan is the head of the state representing the unity of the Republic. Article 41 of the Constitution states: “There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the Head of the State and shall represent the unity of the Republic”.
During hearing in the dual office case in the Lahore High Court recently the Hon’ble Court had made observations against the Head of the State involving in any partisan political activity. As a result a statement was made before the Court that the President dissociated himself from political affairs of the Party.
The President also restrained himself from participating in activities and holding meetings that could be seen as partisan political in nature. This response of the President was also appreciated by the Hon’ble Court while disposing the petition.
However, during the ongoing electioneering campaign a section of the political leadership particularly that of the PML-N has been hurling accusations against the President of Pakistan that tend to inevitably drag the President into political controversy. The President, on the other hand, is severely handicapped because out of deference to the Court observations he cannot react to these accusations by employing befitting political jargon.
Furthermore, the President is the spouse of former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the son in law of the first directly elected Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Direct personal criticism of the President during the campaign while the President himself is severely handicapped to respond to them is denying level playing field to the Party that is contesting elections using the slogans and images of Shaheed Bhuttos.
Kindly look into this and issue directions to the political parties particularly the PML-N leadership to desist from partisan political attacks against the person of the President of Pakistan.
Senator Farhatullah Babar
Spokesperson
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com