CEC Sikandar says army will assist in conducting polls on Feb 8
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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said the Pak Army would assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in conducting the polls on February 8, 2024.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the CEC talked to media persons after finalizing the date of the election in Islamabad on Thursday.
He said the ECP has decided to hold the general elections on February 8 amid controversy as it initially suggested February 11 to the President and the Supreme Court for the polling day.
Anyhow, he said that the ECP had consulted the Supreme Court and the President before finalizing the date of the general elections in the country.
He said that everyone says that elections should be transparent, but on the other hand, there is also interference. Anyhow, the ECP was committed to ensuring free and fair elections, he added.
He also defended the decision to not meet the President personally, saying that it was a collective decision of the ECP.
He said that the ECP had faced similar challenges in the past when it dissolved the KP and Punjab assemblies simultaneously. He said that the ECP respected all institutions, but it also stood firm on its stance.
He added that he had a cordial relationship with the Attorney General as he is their 'family grand'.
To a query, he dismissed the suggestion to hold the polls on Sunday, saying that it would deprive the school children of a holiday.
He said they gave the 11th date to the Supreme Court and the President, then it was unanimously decided that the elections should be held on the 8th.
He added that their effort was that Sunday would be a good day for polling, but when four people sit together they reach some unanimous point.
Answering another question, he said it is not the job of the Election Commission to form a caretaker government, but it is his job to check them.
On another query why are IG Islamabad and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad not changing despite the letter from the Election Commission, he just replied you can see the [result] soon.