Peak lawyers’ bodies want CEC Sikandar Raja to resign over “discrepancies”

Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) —  the peak bodies of lawyers community have raised serious concerns in the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja for holding free, fair and transparent elections on February 8, 2024.

The SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran in a statement expressed deep concern regarding “mounting discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations and seat allocation” during the 26th executive committee of the association.

The SCBA demanded the Sikander Sultan Raja to be sent home as under him, fair and impartial elections with equal opportunity for all, are not possible.

The apex bar questioned the Election Commission’s competence in terms of rising discrepancies in the electoral process close to upcoming elections.It further said that polls should be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, while providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders.

The PBC Chairman Hasan Raza Pasha and Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid supported SCBA’s observations that elections could not be conducted freely and fairly under CEC Raja.

The PBC pointed out that district Jhelum, with a population of 1,382,000 was allocated (2) two National Assemly seats, while district Hafizabad, with a population of around 1,320,000, was allocated only (1) one seat. PBC claimed Jhelum got undue favour for native town of CEC Raja.

The PBC said its aim is to ensure the cause of free, fair and transparent general elections which is impossible in the presence of incumbent CEC, CEC has different codes for every political party or individual.