Written Apology
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has opted to reserve its decision in the case involving Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Firdous Ashiq Awan, who is seeking a written apology from the ECP following an incident where she slapped a police officer on polling day. Awan submitted a written reply to the ECP, initiating a deliberative process on the matter.
During the proceedings, ECP Sindh member Nasir Durrani raised questions about Awan’s actions, questioning her authority to take the law into her own hands. Durrani expressed surprise at the incident, emphasizing that the ECP did not anticipate such behavior from Awan.
In response to the inquiry, Firdous Ashiq Awan defended her actions, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the incident. She highlighted the unique challenges she faced during the election, citing a specific atmosphere at the polling stations in her constituency, which comprised 381 polling stations. Awan claimed that the incident did not occur elsewhere and attributed the peculiar atmosphere to the law enforcement’s failure to protect her from a harassing crowd.
While acknowledging her actions, Firdous Ashiq Awan expressed regret and offered an apology to the police officer involved in the incident. She emphasized the challenging conditions at the polling stations and asserted that the responsibility of maintaining order and ensuring her protection lay with the law enforcement authorities.
The case was heard by ECP members Nasir Durrani and Muhammad Shah Jatoi, representing Sindh and Balochistan, respectively. As the ECP deliberates on the matter, the legal proceedings surrounding Firdous Ashiq Awan’s actions during the polling day incident continue to unfold, bringing attention to the broader issue of maintaining decorum and adherence to the law during the electoral process.
The decision reserved by the ECP will likely have implications for how such incidents are addressed in the context of political conduct and accountability in the future.
