Making it clear that the February 8 elections would be deemed controversial as long as the PTI-SIC does not get the reserved seats in the assemblies, Senator Ali Zafar said on Saturday that the party lawmakers would cast their votes in the presidential election in protest, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

“We have to become part of the democratic process,” the PTI-SIC leader said, adding, “In this regard, we have filed petitions in the Lahore High Court (LHC) as well as in the Sindh High Court (SHC).”

Barrister Zafar said it was unfortunate that despite the fact that the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had granted ‘stay’ in the case, those reaching the assemblies on reserved seats were administered the oath.   

He was of the view that due to controversial steps taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), first the general elections and now the presidential elections had lost their credibility.

‘Worst rigging witnessed in Feb 8 elections’

Also on Saturday, PTI-SIC leader Latif Khosa said that rigging witnessed in the general elections held on February 8 was unprecedented.

Speaking outside the Parliament House, he said all those people whom the people had rejected were now together going to loot the country’s resources. “This is the murder of democracy,” he said, adding, “I don’t see the present assemblies completing their term.”