ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has received the apology of Minister Railways Azam Swati for his comments against the commission.
Swati was unable to attend the November 16 hearing, asking additional time for submission of his reply. The ECP had warned him of framing charges in case he failed to submit a reply in the next [today’s] hearing.
On September 10, Swati and Fawad Chaudhry launched a tirade against the ECP in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee. The railway minister had said that ECP should be set on fire as it was involved in riggings and receiving bribes adding that the commission was mocking the government. Upon hearing the remarks, the officials representing the ECP had walked out of the meeting in protest.
In today’s hearing, headed by Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Barrister Ali Zafar represented Swati and read out his written apology wherein he apologised for any grievances he may have caused. The ECP has instructed Azam to report in-person on December 22 and did not say whether it accepted or rejected his apology.
The decision regarding Chaudhry’s apology was reserved. The information minister, during the November 16 hearing, apologised to the commission. He was instructed by the ECP to submit his apology in written.
