ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Shahzad Shaukat, Secretary Syed Ali Imran and the 26the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) have expressed their deep concern regarding the mounting discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations, and the seat allocations and have further raised serious questions about the transparency of elections under the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
A press statement issued on Tuesday states that while emphasizing the importance of holding general elections on already announced date i.e., February 08, 2024, they understand the need for a level playing field and equal opportunities for all stakeholders. Transparency and fairness must be integral to the electoral process to restore public trust, they opined.
They further express concerns on the ECP’s competence in terms of rising discrepancies in the electoral process close to upcoming elections which raises valid doubts about jeopardizing the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process.
The Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan asserts 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 of achieving meaningful results, imposing a burden on the public exchequer and expending valuable resources.
Therefore, it is imperative to address the issues effectively to safeguard both the democratic process and national resources. As such, the SACAP is of the view that such elections should be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders. However, the SCBAP believes that in order to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the present Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja should go home as under him, fair and impartial elections with equal opportunities for all, are not possible.
 have expressed their deep concern regarding the mounting discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations, and the seat allocations and have further raised serious questions about the transparency of elections under the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.){kind=link}