ECP denies ‘rumours’ CEC being appointed ambassador

Says neither has govt made any such offer, nor does Raja have any intention of seeking an assignment abroad

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has categorically dismissed rumours circulating regarding the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja as an ambassador to a foreign country. The electoral watchdog issued a clarification on Thursday, denouncing the baseless nature of these rumours.

According to the statement released by the ECP, neither has the government made any such offer to Chief Election Commissioner Raja, nor does he harbour any intention of seeking an assignment abroad. Emphasising Raja's commitment to serving his country, the statement affirmed that he will continue his duties within Pakistan even after completing his term of office.

The ECP further cautioned against the dissemination of such misleading information, warning that those responsible for spreading such rumours will face legal repercussions if they fail to act responsibly. The statement underscored the CEC's resolve in addressing any attempts to disrupt the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that appropriate measures will be taken against those engaging in such misconduct.

Also read: PTI demands CEC’s resignation over ‘poll fraud’

This clarification from the ECP comes in the wake of heightened criticism directed towards Chief Election Commissioner Raja, particularly following the general elections held in February. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been vocal in its demands for Raja's resignation, accusing him of neglecting his constitutional and legal obligations and allegedly facilitating ‘electoral fraud.’

PTI's discontent with the conduct of the elections led to calls for the immediate resignation of CEC Raja, as well as the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan. The party alleged collusion among electoral officials, alleging that they played a role in disenfranchising PTI-backed candidates during the February 8 general elections, which were marred by reports of widespread vote rigging.

It's worth noting that this isn't the first instance of PTI calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Raja. In the past, party leaders, including founding chairman Imran Khan, have expressed mistrust in Raja's impartiality, particularly following electoral outcomes that were perceived as unfavourable to PTI's interests.