Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) withdrew a reference filed against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja a few hours after filing a reference in the Supreme Judicial Council seeking the removal of the chief election commissioner.

The decision to withdraw the reference was made immediately after reaching the reference registrar’s office to highlight further legal aspects and points related to the alleged change in the ECP s verdict on prohibited funding against the PTI would be included in the reference.

It has been decided to include points to change the decision of the prohibited funding case in the reference.

Earlier today, the PTI had moved the Supreme Judicial Council against the CEC after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced its reserved verdict in the PTI’s prohibited funding case.

The PTI in its reference pleaded with the SJC to order the removal of the chief election commissioner for his “continuous deliberate misconduct”.

The reference stated that the CEC had violated the ECP’s code of conduct and failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations.

“The CEC must be removed from one of the most respectable and sacred constitutional posts,” the reference said.

The reference also mentioned the meeting of the ruling coalition with the chief election commissioner, saying that pressure was put on the CEC to announce the decision quickly. The decision on the prohibited funding was announced only a few days after the meeting, it added.

The ECP decision was illegal and unlawful, it said and added that the PTI would challenge the order in court.

The PTI alleged that the CEC helped the PML-N in the Daska by-election and the recent Punjab by-election.