The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday has accepted the apologies given by Federal Railways Minister Azam Swati and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry for their remarks against commission.
A two-member bench headed by Nisar Ahmed Durrani accepted the apologies of the two ministers.
The railways minister and the information minister had made comments against the electoral commission on September 10.
During a Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs’s meeting, held with the aim of discussing proposed amendments in the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021, Swati had alleged that the commission ‘always rigged polls’ and should be ‘set on fire’.
On the other hand, Fawad Chaudhry had put forth allegations of bribery against the ECP.
Late October, the ECP had issued a show-cause notice to Azam Swati and Fawad Chaudhry for their comments.
Following the notice, Fawad Chaudhry submitted his apology on November 16 while Swati did so on December 3.
Today’s hearing witnessed Swati appearing before the ECP and stating that he had always raised voice with the aim of making ECP independent.
In response, the minister was asked to avoid making comments against institutions.
Swati later thanked the ECP for accepting his apology and assured measures to strengthen it.
