The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday expressed their deep concern regarding mounting discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations, and seat allocations and raised serious questions about the transparency of elections under incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Shahzad Shaukat, president, Syed Ali Imran, secretary, and the 261th Executive Committee of SCBA issued the statement.

While emphasizing the imperative of holding general elections on the already announced date -- February 8, the SCBA underscored the need for a level playing field and equal opportunities for all stakeholders.

The SCBA emphasized transparency and fairness must be integral to the electoral process to restore public trust and expressed concerns on Election Commissions in the background of discrepancies in the electoral process close to upcoming elections raising ‘valid’ doubts about jeopardizing the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process.

The SCBA Association asserted that elections are the cornerstone of the democratic process in the country and must be held on time.

Mere adherence to election timelines without addressing grievances may undermine stability rather than contribute to it.

Previously, neglecting to address discrepancies in the electoral process before the polls has not only harmed the country but also risked the failure to achieve meaningful results, imposing a burden on the public exchequer and expending valuable resources, therefore, it is imperative to address these issues effectively to safeguard both the democratic process and national resources.

The SCBA is of the view that elections should be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders.

However, SCBA believes that to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the present Chief Election Commissioner should go home as under him, fair and impartial elections with equal opportunity for all, are not possible.

PBC demands level playing field for all political parties

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) asserted the crucial need for the general elections to proceed as planned on Feb 8, 2024, and emphasized the necessity for all political parties and independent candidates to be afforded a level playing field and equal opportunities, ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

However, PBC has expressed its serious concerns over the conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CECP), regarding election procedures, delimitations, and seat allocations and highlighted the growing perception that, in the presence of the incumbent CECP, elections cannot be conducted freely and transparently.

Haroon-ur-Rashid, Vice-Chairman, and Mr. Hassan Raza Pasha, Chairman, the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council (PCB) issued a statement.

“A glaring example is the matter of allocation of two (02) National Assembly seats to the CECP's own native District (Jehlum), with a population of 1,382,000(appx.) while District Hafizabad, with a population of around 1,320,000(appx.), is allocated only one (01) seat. A similar imbalance is observed in the allocation of seats for District Rawalpindi. Despite its lower population compared to Gujranwala Division, an additional seat has been allocated, raising questions about the transparency of the electoral process. It is evident that the conduct of the CECP raises serious doubts about the integrity of the general elections, presenting an environment that appears to lack transparency entirely,”

“In light of these circumstances, the PBC cannot turn a blind eye to these critical matters. They stress that the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, as the highest Constitutional Court, must take notice of these discrepancies instead of endorsing every act of the CECP. The PBC firmly believes that the primary objective is not merely holding elections but conducting them in a free, fair, and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders.”

“With this in mind, the PBC will soon convene an all Pakistan Representative convention to formulate and announce a line of action and date for a lawyers' movement in consultation with Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP). The aim is to ensure the cause of free, fair, and transparent general elections which is not possible in the presence of incumbent Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, as it seems, he has different codes for every political party or individual.”