JI chief demands CEC's resignation over alleged election rigging

Lahore: Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq on Sunday demanded immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, terming the February 8 elections as the most rigged in the country’s history.

Sirajul Haq unveiled plans to protest against electoral rigging in Peshawar on February 23 and to convene a conference in Islamabad on February 25.

He was addressing a press conference at Mansoora in Lahore on Sunday.

The JI chief criticized the unusual sequence in Pakistan where governments are formed before elections, leading to post-election corruption—a phenomenon he believes is unique to Pakistan and not observed elsewhere in the world.

Sirajul Haq highlighted the lack of acceptance of election results dating back to the 1970 elections, a trend he sees continuing today despite widespread rigging. He expressed disappointment over the silence of those benefiting from electoral malpractices.

The JI chief rebuked the role of former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, branding him as a mere pawn and suggesting that all commissioners share similar characteristics.

He urged unity in addressing the nation's crises, cautioning against settling for temporary happiness that could impede the journey toward genuine democracy. Emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and the constitution, he warned against sustaining a government formed through fraudulent elections.

He lamented the appointment of returning officers from within the administration instead of the judiciary, emphasizing that democracy in Pakistan was compromised by the outcomes of the February 8 elections.

Expressing concern, Sirajul Haq foresaw hindrances to the country's progress for the next five years due to issues arising from the elections, including reservations about delimitations and the hasty closure of court cases.