Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) once again urged the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to immediately start the process of appointing the new election commissioner (CEC), instead of Hide behind a constitutional adjustment – 26th amendment – as a pretext to delay the essential appointment. A week after the end of the mandate of CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, the PTI called on the government to quickly constitute a parliamentary panel to fill the key constitutional posts of the CEC as well as the members of Sindh and Balutchistan through a process Transparent and consultative mandated by the Sindh and the Baloutchan Constitution. The second reminder of the opposition party in two weeks on the start of the process of appointment of the new CEC came while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif kept a mother on the letters of opposition chief in the National Assembly and the Senate , urging the Prime Minister for the immediate appointment of a new CEC.
"The sultan of Sikandar Raja, whose term CEC ended on January 26, 2025, was the most controversial figure in the electoral history of Pakistan," PTI information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, said, "The massively rigged polls of February 8 would remain a permanent stain and stigma on his face, always tarnishing his heritage."
Raja’s mandate expired on January 26, but he can continue to exercise his functions until a new appointment is made under the 26th amendment to the Constitution. Late, the PTI information secretary warned the government for not having undermined the Pakistan Electoral Commission (ECP) more. Waqas added that the government was determined to harm all state institutions to protect its own acquired interests. He called for the appointment of a credible, impeccable and impartial individual as the CEC immediately to restore the rapidly decreasing prestige of this vital constitutional body. The head of the PTI stressed that those who have stolen the public mandate systematically undermined all state institutions by adopting selfish constitutional amendments to install loyalists and personalities disputed in high -ranking positions, allowing them to perpetuate their unauthorized rule and avoid responsibility. While PTI is preparing to record its demonstration on February 8, Waqas said that people would not rest until they resume their "mandate stolen" And hold responsible for managers of the fraud of the ballot boxes, including the authors, the facilitators and the beneficiaries. He stressed that the head of the opposition to the National Assembly Omar Ayub and the opposition chief in the Senate Shibli Faraz had already written letters to the president of the National Assembly and to the President of the Senate, respectively, for the Immediate appointment of a new CEC but in vain. He urged the government to "Avoid dillydally tactics and constitute a parliamentary panel without further delay to supervise these important appointments"as stipulated in article 213 of the Constitution. Waqas clearly indicated that "The PTI would no longer allow power seizures to keep the very controversial CEC current in this estimated position or replace it with someone biased and with blue eyes, comes what can." He swore that PTI would not leave any stone not returned to ensure the appointment of the most credible person to the August post to revitalize the credibility of the electoral watchdog. PTI said that the public had already pronounced an unambiguous verdict on February 8, even in the face of coercion and intimidation, and a sea of people would emerge again on February 8, 2025, through the country to ensure that Their decision is implemented in his real real letter and spirit. Last week, PTI also insisted that the government immediately and transparently appoints an honest, impartial and neutral CEC in consultation with PTI to revitalize the electoral watchdog and ensure the continuity of democratic processes. PTI had a difficult relationship with ECP under the direction of Raja, marked by legal challenges and public disputes. Tensions culminated in the general elections in 2024, where the PTI claimed the widespread rigging and the votes of falsification after the dispute led by the ECP has stripped the party of its emblematic electoral symbol The cricket bat. The party has repeatedly accused Raja of having delayed the results of the elections and falsification of voting counts, allegations that the ECP has always denied. PTI also called for Raja’s resignation, saying that his actions have eroded confidence in ECP’s ability to carry out fair elections. Under Raja’s mandate, several key electoral questions remained unresolved, including the postponement of elections in the Senate for 11 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the allocation of seats reserved due to a confrontation between the Supreme Court and Parliament, and delay. The Federal Minister for Information and Dissemination Ata Tarar was approached for comments, but his answer did not come before the filing of history.
