LHC to hear plea against CEC’s appointment

Petition argues that polls supervisory authority chief appointed on political basis

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday removed the Registrar Office's objection to a petition against the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan heard the petition filed by Talib Hussain Advocate. The petition argued that the appointment of the chief election commissioner was made on political grounds.

The Registrar Office had objected to the petition, stating that such a petition should be filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the federal capital’s high court.

During the arguments, the federal government's lawyer stated that the Supreme Court had already dismissed such a petition.

The LHC chief justice remarked that this petition presented new grounds. “We will examine it legally. If it lacks merit, I will dismiss it," he said. Later, the court directed the petition to be numbered and scheduled for hearing.

The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan is a crucial position responsible for overseeing the conduct of elections to ensure they are free, fair, and transparent.

The CEC is appointed for a five-year term and holds significant authority in the administration and supervision of electoral processes across the country.

The appointment process for the CEC involves consultations between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, followed by confirmation from a parliamentary committee.

This position is pivotal in maintaining the integrity of Pakistan's democratic processes and ensuring that electoral activities are conducted in accordance with the law and without bias.