Pakistan election will be conducted by aliens: PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the upcoming general election would be conducted by “aliens”, triggering a sharp reaction from the Election Commission which advised him to stay away from making “irresponsible statements”, according to a media report. The remarks indicate that the government is not expecting the upcoming election to be transparent.

“Elections will be held by aliens, but even then we [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] will participate in it,” he said in an informal chat with journalists during a reception hosted by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for members of the Lower House.

ECP spokesman Altaf Khan said people occupying important office should desist from making such “irresponsible statements”, adding that such statements amounted to ridiculing the Constitution, a Dawn News report said.