The Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) before it on Thursday to ask when the country’s largest province of Punjab was going to polls and why government officials were being transferred during the interim period.
A rare showdown was seen when CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja appeared before the court and apparently resisted the pressure coming from judges who could be considered his equals given the fact he also heads a constitutionally autonomous body, namely the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
CEC Raja was accorded due protocol when he entered the apex court building: he passed through the same gate honorable judges use.
In the courtroom, however, a tough exchange of questions and answers ensued. It is unusual for the Supreme Court of Pakistan to summon CEC before it.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked why the ECP was not giving a date for the Punjab election. The ECP is focused only on transfers, he said.
One of the reasons the CEC was summoned to the top court was the transfer of Lahore police chief Ghulam Mahmood Dogar. He was appointed by the PTI government and had been really helpful to the party, especially in the probe into the assassination attempt against Imran Khan, but the caretaker government removed him from the position.
When the Supreme Court met earlier in the day, the additional advocate general — who represents the provincial government — told the court that Dogar was transferred with permission from the ECP since the province is under an interim period for elections.
Then where are the elections? asked Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi said that half of the officials in the province had been transferred.
The Supreme Court summoned the CEC and took a break.
When it met again, CEC Raja was there to answer questions.
He said he was bound to follow the Constitution, the law, and the orders from the judiciary.
The ECE was ready to hold elections and was going to the Lahore High Court to discuss a date, he said.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan said he did not see an election on the horizon and that the ECP was busy with transfers and postings.
CEC Raja said he was being stopped from performing his duties.
He said he asked the Pakistan Army to provide security for the election and it refused. He asked the judiciary to provide returning officers (ROs) and it refused. He asked the finance ministry for election expenditures and it refused.
The Supreme Court then asked the ECP to submit a detailed report on holding elections.
It will resume the hearing on Friday and CEC Raja will appear again.
