F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Top lawyers’ bodies of the country — Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) — have expressed distrust in Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja for holding free and transparent elections slated for February 8 next year.
In a statement on Tuesday, PBC Vice-Chairman Haroon-ur-Rashid and Chairman Executive Committee Hassan Raza Pasha asserted the crucial need for the general elections to proceed as planned on February 8, 2024. They emphasise the necessity of all political parties and independent candidates to be provided a level playing field and equal opportunities, ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
While expressing their serious concerns over the conduct of the CEC, regarding election procedures, delimitations, and seat allocations, they “highlighted the growing perception that in the presence of the incumbent CECP, elections cannot be conducted freely and transparently”.
The PBC cited a “glaring example” of the allocation of two National Assembly seats to the CEC’s own native district Jhelum, with a population of 1,382,000 approximately while district Hafizabad, with a population of around 320,000 is allocated only one seat.
“A similar imbalance is observed in the allocation of seats for District Rawalpindi. Despite its lower population compared to Gujranwala Division, an additional seat has been allocated, raising questions about the transparency of the electoral process,” it added. The PBC said it is evident that the conduct of CEC Raja raises serious doubts about the integrity of the general elections, “presenting an environment that appears to lack transparency entirely”.
In light of these circumstances, the PBC said it cannot turn a blind eye to these critical matters. The lawyers’ body also called upon the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of these discrepancies “instead of endorsing every act” of the CEC.
“The PBC firmly believes that the primary objective is not merely holding elections but conducting them in a free, fair, and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders.” The PBC said it will soon convene an all Pakistan representative convention to formulate and announce a line of action and date for a lawyers’ movement in consultation with SCBA.
“The aim is to ensure the cause of free, fair, and transparent general elections which is not possible in the presence of the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, as it seems, he has different codes for every political party or individual.”
Responding to allegations, a spokesperson for the ECP said no new seat was carved out in the native constituency of the CEC. In a statement, the ECP spokesperson said CEC Raja’s home constituency is NA-182 in Sargodha. The ECP will not “bow to any pressure or blackmailing,” the statement added.
