Chief Election Commissioner vows to uphold constitution amidst criticism

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja stated that regardless of any abuse directed at us, we will adhere to the constitution and the law.

According to media, a four-member commission led by the Chief Election Commissioner held a hearing regarding the change of election tribunals for three constituencies in Islamabad. Lawyer Anjum Aqeel mentioned that they are resubmitting their application.

The son of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported candidate, Amir Mughal, appeared in court and stated that there are multiple FIRs against his father, making it difficult for them to hire a lawyer. He requested three to four weeks for preparation.

The Chief Election Commissioner responded that they would be given until tomorrow to hire a lawyer and instructed them to submit separate applications for the three constituencies, expressing concern that they did not seem serious and questioning whether they wanted their application to be rejected.

PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen claimed that they had not received a copy of the commission’s last order despite submitting a request for it.

After the hearing, the Chief Election Commissioner directed that a copy of the order be provided within five minutes and announced that an inquiry would be conducted into why the copy had not been provided.

Shoaib Shaheen remarked that they felt like strangers in the proceedings, to which a member from Balochistan replied, questioning how they could feel like strangers. Shaheen explained that he was referring to the injustices they faced.

The Chief Election Commissioner reiterated that the Election Commission would operate under the constitution and law, regardless of any abuse received.

Shoaib Shaheen replied that they had never used abusive language, to which Sikandar Sultan Raja suggested he should ask his associates about that.

Shoaib Shaheen further stated that they felt like strangers in the justice system.

A member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remarked that if someone gives you a favor, they act justly, while others commit injustices.

Subsequently, the hearing on the requests of Anjum Aqeel and Khurram Nawaz was adjourned until 12:30 PM today, while the hearing on Tariq Fazal Chaudhry’s request was postponed until October 4.