As the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja nears his retirement in just over two months, key government figures have begun the process of selecting his successor. According to sources close to the development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is considering several candidates for the position, including former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is reportedly seen as a preferred candidate due to his favorable standing with both the country’s powerful military establishment and the government.
The current CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, whose term concludes at the end of January next year, has been a controversial figure, particularly following the February 8, 2024 general elections. These elections were marred by allegations of misconduct and manipulation, with opposition figures, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing the government of rigging the election to undermine Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) mandate. Khan and other PTI members have frequently criticized the Sharif-led government, accusing it of planting loyalists in key positions to consolidate power.
The potential appointment of Qazi Faez Isa as the new CEC has sparked concerns among PTI leaders, who believe that such a move would be part of a larger strategy to sideline their party. A senior PTI leader, who chose to remain anonymous, warned that appointing someone perceived as biased and hostile towards PTI, like Qazi Faez Isa, would provoke strong opposition from the party’s supporters. He further stated that PTI is prepared to respond forcefully to any attempts to install figures they view as biased against the party.
The PTI leader further hinted at the possibility of large-scale protests if the government proceeds with appointing Qazi Faez Isa, accusing the establishment of pushing an agenda that is “unjust and fundamentally undemocratic.” He warned that such a move would not go unchallenged, emphasizing that PTI supporters are ready to stand against what they see as an attempt to undermine Pakistan’s democratic process.
