PTI seeks removal of chief election commissioner

Islamabad: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh leadership on Friday filed a complaint in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and five other members of the commission.

PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Justice (retd) Noor ul Haq Qureshi and MPA Muhammad Shabbir lodged the complaint under Articles 209 (5) and (6) of the Constitution.

They alleged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials of failure to perform their constitutional duties, stealing the mandate of the PTI through rigging in the February 8 general elections and the malicious misrepresentation of the Supreme Court orders.

Barrister Ali Tahir submitted the complaint, which alleged the CEC and ECP officials of their embroilment in pre-election, election day, and post-election rigging.

Seeking inquiry into their claims, the plaintiffs said the defendants’ measures affected more than 120 million voters.

They submitted that the respondents have wrongfully declared candidates from the complainant's party as independents in the elections violating the spirit of the Constitution and the Supreme Court's orders, and undermining democracy in the country which they are bound to uphold.

Following the Supreme Court's verdict on petitions related to reserved seats, the complainants sought the immediate accountability of the respondent.

They submitted that the ECP attempted to undermine the PTI mandate, but the top court’s ruling had exposed unconstitutional and illegal activities of the election commissioners accounting for gross misconduct.

They contended that according to Article 224 of the Constitution, a general election must take place within 60 days of an assembly completing its term, or within 90 days if an assembly is dissolved prematurely.