Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has strongly refuted baseless allegations and misleading propaganda being circulated by certain vested interest groups and individuals against the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and its members.
In an official statement issued on Monday, the ECP emphasized that all decisions are made strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without yielding to any external pressure or influence.
The ECP spokesperson clarified that recent commentary surrounding a meeting between the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and the CEC is entirely misleading and not rooted in fact. The spokesperson pointed out that such interactions between constitutional and administrative officeholders and the Commission are routine and take place regularly for official matters.
Highlighting past precedents, the ECP noted multiple meetings between the CEC and former President Arif Alvi, particularly regarding issues such as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and internet voting â matters that technically fall outside the Presidentâs constitutional domain. Similarly, various Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, and former KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, have met with the CEC in the past upon request.
The spokesperson further elaborated that the CEC had also held meetings with former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in his official capacity, just as other members of the Commission have met provincial chief ministers for official business. âIf these meetings were acceptable in the past, why are they being questioned now?â the spokesperson asked.
Addressing recent claims made by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the ECP rejected his accusation that he was not declared a candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) by the Returning Officer. The Commission clarified that his nomination papers stated affiliation with “Sunni Ittehad Council alliance with PTI,” despite neither party having formally submitted any alliance declaration or requested a joint electoral symbol under Sections 215(2) of the Elections Act and Rule 162(2).
Additionally, the ECP revealed that the declaration submitted by Raza was on behalf of “PTI Nazriati” and was not accompanied by a valid SIC party ticket. Consequently, the Returning Officer, in accordance with the law, declared him an independent candidate and allotted him the symbol of a ‘minar’ (tower). âIf his claim were valid, he should have submitted his partyâs official ticket and declared himself an SIC candidate,â the spokesperson stated.
Moreover, when asked under Section 206 of the Elections Act to provide a list of female candidates nominated by SIC, Raza himself, through a signed written reply, informed the ECP that no candidate contested the 2024 General Election on SICâs ticket. Therefore, the issue of submitting a list of female candidates did not arise.
The ECP reiterated that no official of the Commission meets any individual in a personal capacity, and that political parties approaching the Commission is neither unusual nor against the rules.
