ISLAMABAD: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan, Sikandar Sultan Raja, on Friday called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, at the Supreme Court to discuss the potential implications of the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict on the upcoming general elections in the country.
The meeting, attended by senior judges of the apex court, including Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Tariq Masood, saw CEC Raja briefing the apex court judges about the LHC’s decision on December 14, which suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification regarding the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy for the scheduled elections on February 8, 2024.
LHC’s Justice Ali Baqir Najafi, responding to a plea from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had expressed concerns that appointing DROs and ROs from the bureaucracy could compromise the impartiality and transparency of the elections.
Accepting the PTI’s plea, Justice Najafi suspended the ECP’s notification and referred the case to the LHC chief justice, suggesting the formation of a larger bench for further consideration. Chief Justice formed a five-member larger bench and fixed the case for hearing on December 18.
Reports say that the Supreme Court may take notice of the issue to ensure the timely conduct of elections. The court is expected to make a decision within the next day or two to ensure compliance with the 54-day period, the minimum timeframe from the announcement of elections to the actual polling day.
The ECP is required to announce the poll schedule by December 17 for the elections scheduled on February 8.
On the other Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Istehkam Pakistan Party have decided to become the party in the case.
