ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday demanded that the government immediately and transparently appoint an honest, impartial and neutral Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in consultation with the PTI to revitalize the election watchdog and ensure continuity of democratic processes.
The PTI’s demand has come as incumbent CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja’s tenure expires on January 26, but he can continue to perform his duties until a new appointment is made under the 26th amendment to the constitution.
“The dark era of the outgoing CEC left an indelible mark on the country’s electoral landscape,” PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said.
He stressed that it was the government’s duty to ensure timely and consensus-based appointments of the CEC and two other provincial heads of the electoral body “to protect the institution from further destruction”.
The PTI Information Secretary said that the outgoing CEC’s tenure had seriously damaged the reputation of the ECP and allowing him to continue in the post would be a gross injustice not only to the institution but also to the nation.
The PTI has had a rocky relationship with the ECP under Raja’s leadership, marred by legal challenges and public disputes. Tensions peaked during the 2024 general elections, with the PTI alleging widespread fraud and vote rigging after the ECP-led trial stripped the party of its iconic election symbol – the cricket bat.
The party has repeatedly accused Raja of delaying election results and tampering with vote counts, allegations the ECP has consistently denied. The PTI has also called for Raja’s resignation, claiming that his actions have eroded confidence in the ECP’s ability to conduct fair elections.
During Raja’s tenure, several key electoral issues remained unresolved, including the postponement of the Senate elections for 11 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the allocation of reserved seats due to a dispute between the Supreme Court and Parliament, and delays in local government elections in Punjab and Islamabad.
In his statement, Waqas further lamented that Raja’s “controversial tenure” has had far-reaching and damaging consequences for Pakistan’s democratic processes.
He added that “the government should appoint an impartial and competent person through a transparent and consultative process,” as mandated by the constitution to restore the credibility and integrity of the ECP.
PTI’s latest call for a new CEC has come on the heels of the letters written by Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub and Leader of Opposition in Senate Shibli Faraz to NA Speaker and Senate Chairman respectively for the immediate appointment of a new CEC.
Waqas urged the government to set up a parliamentary committee without any delay to oversee the appointments, as stipulated in Article 213 of the constitution. He noted that the appointment of an impartial and credible person as a new CEC would be the first step towards healing the wounds inflicted on Pakistan’s democracy and rebuilding the nation’s confidence in the ECP. The PTI spokesperson warned that the inordinate delay in the crucial appointment could trigger a constitutional crisis and further erode public confidence in the democratic system. He said the Supreme Court also exposed the partiality and partiality of the ECP in the detailed judgment of MNA Adil Bazai’s disqualification case.
Waqas stressed that the PTI would not accept Sikandar in the post for even a day because he seriously damaged the credibility of the ECP during his controversial tenure.
PPP’s false image of resistance
Meanwhile, he criticized the PPP for its “duplicity and hypocritical role”, saying the party always tried to deceive the public by claiming to make significant changes to anti-public or anti-democratic laws. In reality, he added, the party was only making cosmetic adjustments, as a trade-off.
He accused the party of falsely projecting an image of resistance while secretly facilitating “tailored laws” for political mileage. He claimed that the PPP’s demands for reforms were only cosmetic as the party had always worked behind the scenes to protect anti-democratic laws for its own gain.
He said PTI would continue to fight for constitutional supremacy, rule of law and true independence regardless of the obstacles and challenges they faced.
No internal division
Additionally, Waqas dismissed the reports of internal divisions within PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter and said the party remained a cohesive and united force under the leadership of Imran Khan.
He emphasized that the PTI founder was the only binding force that held the party together.
