Islamabad, Aug 4 (PTI) The situation here turned tense on Thursday after former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a protest against Pakistan’s Election Commission and its chief alleging discrimination.
A few days back, the Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Khan’s party for receiving prohibited foreign donations.
There is a tussle going on between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the Election Commission. Khan has been accusing Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja of being discriminatory.
On Monday, Khan had announced a protest outside the Election Commission’s office in Islamabad on Thursday to press for Raja’s resignation. Khan decided to change his protest site after the police put up roadblocks on the leading routes and the government decided to stop the protesters.
He tweeted, “Today I am calling on my people to come out at 6 o’clock in F9 Park for a peaceful mass protest against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission.” He wrote that he addressed this public meeting in the evening. will do.
A few days ago, the Election Commission in the foreign donation case had come to the conclusion that Khan’s PTI had received donations from prohibited sources and had hid the money which he received from various sources.
The Election Commission on Tuesday said that Khan’s party took donations from 34 foreigners, including an Indian-origin businessman, against the rules. This was a major setback for the former prime minister.
A three-member bench of the commission issued a show cause notice to PTI for taking prohibited donations from foreign nationals and foreign companies.
The Pakistan government has said that it will stop the protesters. Home Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that the government would not allow PTI supporters to enter the red zone and protest outside the Election Commission.
Police have sealed the Red Zone in anticipation of unrest among the protesters.