Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja engaged in a crucial meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Friday to deliberate on the ramifications of the Lahore High Court (LHC) order nullifying the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification to enlist bureaucrats as returning officers (ROs) for the upcoming general election in 2024.
The meeting, held at the Supreme Court and attended by Justices Sardar Tariq and Ijazul Ahsan, along with Attorney General Mansoor Usman, addressed the LHC’s suspension of the ECP’s notification, highlighting the intricacies of the legal dispute.
The CJP, after consulting with two senior judges, convened the meeting and summoned the Attorney General for comprehensive discussions.
As per inside sources, the court is anticipated to convene soon after the judges’ deliberation, given the imminent requirement for the ECP to unveil the election schedule either today or tomorrow.
The scheduled general election date is February 8, 2024, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) contested the ECP’s decision to employ bureaucrats for election roles in the LHC.
The LHC’s suspension of the ECP’s notification on December 14, 2023, prompted the establishment of a five-member larger bench, headed by the LHC chief justice, to hear the case on December 18, 2023.
The PTI argued that the ECP breached the Constitution and the Elections Act 2017 by appointing ROs from the bureaucracy without consulting political parties, emphasizing the disregard for officers’ performance and neutrality.
The ECP defended its stance, asserting adherence to the law and historical practice in appointing ROs from the bureaucracy, asserting the authority to remove biased or incompetent officers.
The LHC’s order has introduced uncertainty regarding the timely conduct of the general election, given the ECP’s obligation to release the election schedule at least 54 days before the polling day. With December 17 marks the first day and February 8 as the 54th day in the proposed election schedule.
